The Minister for Communities, Deirdre Hargey, MLA and Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government and Planning, Peter Burke, TD were hosted by Co-operation Ireland on the 29^th of March for an online briefing on the work of the All-Island Local Authority Forum, one of Co-operation Ireland’s flagship cross-border programmes.

Both the Department for Communities (DfC) and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) jointly fund the All-Island Local Authority Forum, which is a strategic partnership of Chief Executives from the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives in Northern Ireland (SOLACE NI) and Chief Executives from the County and City Management Association (CCMA). 

The Forum has provided opportunities for co-operation in the local government sector on a range of issues from Housing, Community Planning and Philanthropy to current issues of economic development and regeneration, climate action and tourism through shared learning, best practice and information exchange.

The Forum focuses on building strong relationships with the wider SOLACE NI and CCMA sectors and places a strong emphasis on both maintaining and building relationships between central and local government through its work programme. 

Speaking ahead of the meeting;

Minister Hargey said: “I regard the programme as an ideal method of promoting co-operation on areas of mutual interest between Local Authorities.

I am particularly pleased that the All-Island Local Authority Forum comprising Chief Executives from Local Authorities North and South, identifies joint projects, seminars and research around issues highly relevant to our citizens throughout the island namely of economic development and regeneration, climate action and tourism”

Minister Burke said: “I’m looking forward to meeting with Minister Hargey and the members of the All-Island Local Authority Forum and Co-operation Ireland to hear about their on-going collaboration on local government issues and their key initiative on Town Centre Recovery and Regeneration. This meeting will contribute to the strong relationship and co-operation between local authorities on the island of Ireland through shared learning and the exchange of information on best practice.”

Co-operation Ireland’s CEO, Peter Sheridan added;

“Co-operation Ireland’s commitment to developing relationships is reflected perfectly in our Local Authority Programme that brings together the island’s local authorities to work towards making day-to-day life better for everyone through knowledge sharing and relationship building. On behalf of Co-operation Ireland, I am delighted to host a briefing for Minister Hargey and Minister Burke on the work of the All-Island Local Authority Forum and thank their departments for continuing to fund this important programme.”