Minister Joe O’Brien attends induction of Place-Based Leadership Development Programme in Darndale
· The Place-Based Leadership Development Programme in Darndale and Drogheda will build new community leaders to empower communities to address the issues they face.
· The Place-Based Leadership Development Programme evolved from key recommendations in the Jack Nolan and Vivian Geiran reports.
Today (25 January 2022) Joe O’Brien TD, Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development attended the induction day of a Place-Based Leadership Development Programme in Darndale. Funded by DRCD, this important Programme is being delivered in Darndale and Drogheda further to recommendations from the Nolan and Geiran reports. The Programme is an investment in local leaders to help them address the challenges experienced in those areas.
The Place-Based Leadership Development programme will strengthen the capacity of those already working hard to improve the quality of community life in Darndale and Drogheda. The programme will encourage and facilitate collaboration that will positively impact the culture of the area.
The issues identified in both areas are complex and will require a response from a number of different sectors. An important element of driving change will be a strong coalition of mutually invested organisations working with the local community. This approach will make a lasting impact and bring forward the solutions required.
Place-Based Leadership will open up new perspectives and possibilities and provide opportunities for mutual learning. It will also ensure that local leaders develop the collaboration skills needed to address the challenges their communities face.
Minister O’Brien said:
“I am delighted to attend the induction of the Place-Based Leadership Development Programme. This programme will support each participant working to improve the lives of people in Darndale and Drogheda.
The programme will create an opportunity for the participants to work together to design, implement and review solutions to complex social challenges.
I am delighted that my Department was able to provide funding and support for this very important and meaningful programme. I am confident that the learnings from this great initiative can be built upon and expanded to other communities in Ireland going forward”.