The inaugural Local Development Conference – LDCN Summit 2030 – took place on 30–31 October 2025 in Ballina, Co. Mayo. The two-day gathering brought together leaders of the Local Development Companies Network, policymakers, and community development practitioners from across Ireland to explore how communities, society, and the economy can thrive together through partnership and innovation.
SECAD Partnership representatives Gerard McMahon (SECAD Chair), Ryan Howard (CEO), and Suzanne Kearney (Assistant CEO and Programme Manager) attended the Summit to share insights with peers and policymaker and discuss the challenges Local Development Companies face in their work, as well as potential solutions to address them.
Ryan Howard, SECAD CEO, reflected on the event:
“The LCDN Summit raised some key questions – over a thirty-year period, investment in community and local development has proven to be very effective in supporting sustainable development, enabling communities to prepare for and address major challenges in terms of equality, accessibility, connectivity, and integration. The levels of funding made available has not kept pace with the scale of the work that communities, volunteers, and community-based services are expected to manage. Too much pressure is being added to volunteer-dependent supports leading to burn-out. And the funds have some of the most ridiculous levels of administration added”.
The Summit opened with a warm welcome from Thomas Fitzpatrick, Chair of LDCN, and Sean Carey, Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council, who highlighted the community-driven ethos of Local Development Companies and the impact of programmes such as SICAP, LEADER, and the Rural Social Scheme across Mayo and Ireland.
Minister Jerry Buttimer, Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht and at the Department of Transport, then addressed delegates, recognising the vital role that the local development sector plays in fostering partnerships, empowering communities, and delivering real, measurable change.
The first panel of the Summit set the tone for reflection, dialogue, and collaboration. Moderated by John Feerick, CEO of Sligo LEADER Partnership Company CLG, the discussion explored how Local Development Companies contribute to community, society, and the economy. The panel focused on integrated services: the idea that by housing a range of complementary programmes within one community-based organisation, the total becomes greater than the sum of its parts. The discussion highlighted how the work of LDCs touches every part of people’s lives, shifting the focus from individual programmes to the communities and people at the heart of their work.
A highlight of the Summit was the Rural Development panel, moderated by Karen Mannion, CEO of FORUM Connemara CLG. The discussion examined how bottom-up, community-led principles can be embedded in Ireland’s next rural development policy. Piotr Sadłocha, President of the European LEADER Association for Rural Development (ELARD), emphasised:
“As we meet here today, LEADER is at a crossroads, but if we get the next MFF right, LEADER will continue to be Europe’s most effective instrument for rural development.”
He also discussed the uncertainties and opportunities ahead for the LEADER programme, highlighting its vital role in sustaining rural communities across Ireland and Europe.
Minister Dara Calleary, Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, and at the Department of Social Protection, opened Day 2 with a keynote reaffirming his Department’s commitment to supporting Local Development Companies. He emphasised the importance of sustainable funding for programmes such as SICAP, LAES, and LEADER, which underpin community-led development nationwide.
Other Summit highlights included keynotes and panels on research, inclusion, and community empowerment. Dr Anne Devlin (ESRI) spoke on “Place-Based Research in Ireland”, showing how local research reveals hidden impacts and partnerships. Annette Fox moderated a panel on partnerships between government, local authorities, and communities, while Máire Uí Mhaoláin led discussions on the needs of Gaeltacht and island communities. Dr Anna Visser explored the impact of child poverty and the need for cross-government collaboration, and Úna Lowry concluded with a panel on how local knowledge can shape fairer, more effective policies.
Reflecting on the two days of the event, Ryan Howard, SECAD CEO, said:
“For the first time in many years, through the LCDN Summit, I witnessed a coming together of some of the key players in Ireland that could address these issues in a manner that was creative and could have the potential to really deliver positive change. There were senior government ministers and civil servants working on these issues with the local development ‘people-on-the-ground’, working to shape solutions, not just the challenges. The important thing coming from LCDN Summit is that it creates a positive momentum. Now our focus in SECAD Partnership, as part of the local development network, is to maintain this until we see the changes that we know are needed being implemented for all.”
