Local Authority

The Local Authority Programme is an integral part of Co-operation Ireland’s ongoing commitment to effective cross-border relations.
The close relationships, goodwill and underlying co-operation that have developed between local authorities across the island of Ireland have led to benefits such as the sharing of knowledge & expertise which has resulted in increased productivity and improved efficiency.

The focus point of the Local Authorities Programme is the All-Island Steering Forum, which was first established in January 2003. The Forum is comprised of nine representatives from the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers (SOLACE) in Northern Ireland and the Local Government Management and Staff Board (LGMSB) in the Republic of Ireland.

The Forum is serviced through the following four Sub-Committees:

  • Community & Leisure
  • Customer Contact
  • Internal Operations
  • Services Delivery

Each sub-committee seeks to replicate the main activities and functions of the local authorities throughout the island and chaired by representatives from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Sub-committee members include senior level local authority representatives and, when required, non-government subject matter experts. Meetings are held quarterly.

While the sub-committees are standing bodies, the projects and associated sub-groups will vary depending on project timelines and priorities. The flexibility and responsiveness of the sub-committee structure is one of its key strengths.

The Community and Leisure Sub-Committee

Currently, the Community & Leisure Sub-Committee, which is chaired by Tom Dowling (County Manager, Meath County Council) and Michael McGuickan (Chief Executive, Cookstown District Council), are running a Pride of Place competition directed at local community groups. For more details, see the Pride of Place website
They are also examining Christian Heritage initiatives working with Meath, Louth, Armagh and Down counties.

The Customer Contact Sub-Committee

The Customer Contact Sub-Committee is chaired by John Dempsey (Chief Executive, Ballymoney Borough and District Council) and Hubert Kearns (County Manager, Sligo County Council). The current focus for this group is on a joint pilot project between Sligo County Council and Omagh District Council, which looks at customer care approaches in local authorities.

The Services Delivery Sub-Committee

The Services Delivery Sub-Committee, chaired by William Beattie and Declan Nelson, examines the service elements of Local Authorities. Areas include tourism, industrial development, commercial development, environmental management and so on. This group is in the process of establishing a Town Centre Management Sub-Group to look at areas of town regeneration, community safety, traffic management and so on.

The Internal Operations Sub-Committee

The Internal Operations Sub-Committee is chaired by Terry O'Niadh (County Manager, North Tipperary County Council) and Victor Brownlees (Armagh City and District County Council) and is specifically concerned with the internal operational aspects and day to day running of local authorities. Functions include human resources, finance, contract management, building maintenance and so on.

  • ""