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Local Communities in a Reunited Ireland
Local
communities and their councils play a vital role in promoting democratic
participation, delivering essential services, and enhancing community
resilience, especially in rural areas. They serve as the closest
government entities to constituents, offering a platform for collective
voice and local engagement that national or county governments often
lack.
In previous essays, the importance of involving local
communities in government affairs was discussed broadly. This essay will
delve into the specific roles and contributions of local communities and
community councils, including the services they can provide in
collaboration with county governments or independently."
Foundations of democracy:
Local
communities are
the foundation of democracy, directly impacting the lives of their
constituents. They enhance public participation, strengthen community
cohesion, improve essential services, and drive development, especially
in rural areas."
The birth of democracy arose from the fundamental
need for personal safety, extending to family, clans, tribes, kinships,
and indigenous communities. Over millennia, the impact of social change
has diminished the importance of many of these human groupings. Despite
that, local communities remain relevant because they are essential to
human survival and participatory democracy. In addition, they provide
support, identity, and a sense of belonging to those within their orbit.
Despite all of that, they are overlooked by the government, especially
in Ireland.
Challenges addressed by communities:
In the present era,
nation-states, regions, and security alliances have become integral to
the fabric of democracy, a process of evolution that brings freedom to
more people worldwide and provides a crucial bulwark against
anti-democratic forces.
However, change comes with consequences, challenges, and social
isolation for those left behind and unable to cope.
Many of these challenges
stem from geopolitical conflicts, climate change, trade, and supply
chain issues that are beyond the control of any individual or country.
The ever-increasing influence of elitism and oligarchy compounds them.
Faced with these challenges, local communities are more important
than ever as they convey a sense of belonging and a haven of hope from
pessimism and fear.
Establishment under the federal system:
In a reunited
Ireland, local community councils will be independent apolitical
constructs of the government. They will be constitutionally
recognized as a government entity and a constituent part of the proposed
federal system for a new Ireland as described in this publication. They
will be established during the transition period from the existing
unitary system of government to the federal system.
Local communities will operate within a statutory
framework enacted by the sitting government during the transition period
in accordance with the criteria established by the transition teams.
Inclusivity and governance:
As
government entities, local communities will be required to represent all
community constituents equally, regardless of
age, gender,
race, disability,
nationality, or sexual orientation.
They will also be required to be non-political and non-sectarian
in all matters, including discussions, deliberations, and dealings.
County governments will establish local communities
in consultation with local community representatives. County governments
will designate representatives (county councilors) to oversee the
establishment of local communities located within the representative’s
constituency. The process followed by the designated representatives
will be as follows.
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After
consulting with local leaders, schedule an inaugural general meeting
to inform community constituents of what’s involved and what’s
required of them.
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At
the inaugural general meeting, explain the role of the local
community and the community council as defined in the statutory
framework.
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Display a map of the community that outlines
its boundaries and includes villages and other key geographical
features. Community boundaries can be adopted to either single or
multiple parish boundaries, depending on population density and
affinity considerations.
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Turnover to the community council,
community-related information, including the names and addresses of
constituents, population demographics, the location of schools and
other public property, and other relevant data needed to administer
community affairs.
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In consultation with community officials,
establish communication protocols for use by the local community in
dealing with county government.
Operational framework:
The
primary function of community councils will be
to represent their constituents before county governments. To do so
effectively, community councils must follow these steps.
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Develop bylaws that define the roles and responsibilities of
officers, committees, and working groups,
together with standard operating procedures
for use in conducting
business.
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Secure
a headquarters that meets the needs of the community in the future.
Community headquarters will include meeting rooms, offices, a
library including reading/research rooms, and an online terminal to
access government services, documents, and forms. Trained
volunteers will staff the facility, respond to inquiries, and assist
constituents in navigating government bureaucracy and requirements
for applying for services
available to the elderly, disabled, and disadvantaged.
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Schedule regular meetings to
bring people together to discuss community concerns and, when
warranted, petition the
county government for redress
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Engage with local
constituents with the expertise and skills needed to form and manage
committees and work groups to manage functions pertinent to
community operations.
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Identify services
presently lacking or deficient and what community groups can do to
rectify the situation.
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Establish a
community-specific communication system utilizing texts, emails,
social media, and a website to keep constituents engaged and
informed
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Review all activities
taking place within the community, including recreational, cultural,
educational, volunteer, and charitable activities, to ascertain if
any or all fall under the purview of community councils.
Generally, most, if not all, of such activities come under the ambit
of community councils.
Funding and volunteerism:
Funding
for the establishment of local communities will be provided by grants
approved by the government in power during the transition period. All
such grants will be under the control of local government officials.
Once the transition is complete and the federal system is operable,
funding sources will be accounted for in the revamped taxation system
applicable to all government entities.
In the early stages of development, local communities
will rely on government grants and volunteer labor to operate and evolve
into fully functional and viable communities. Once the new federal
system is in place and operational, funding sources for local
communities will be incorporated into the newly revamped taxation
system. Funding for local communities will be allotted to procure
equipment, cover expenses, pay office staff, and settle contracts.
Volunteers will continue to be utilized to the greatest extent possible
to serve community programs and needs.
Properly
credentialed and functioning communities are uniquely positioned to
provide a subset of services to their communities that are presently
inadequate or not provided by county governments, especially in rural
areas. To do so effectively, community councils must have plans in place
to handle man-made and natural disaster emergencies. Such plans
must include emergency community-based alert systems, emergency response
team rosters, and lists of available equipment and supplies. A
contact list for county government and neighboring communities’
emergency response personnel must also be on hand and up to date. A
memorandum of understanding with local equipment contractors must be in
place in case heavy or specialized equipment is needed.
Emergency services:
The following subset of services can be provided by professionally
trained and equipped volunteers at the community level.
The existing system, although
adequate in terms of personnel training and basic lifesaving equipment,
does not extend to every community in Ireland, particularly in rural
areas. For non-serviced communities, the delay in the delivery of basic
lifesaving interventions is a matter of life and death for heart attack,
stroke, or hemorrhage victims who may have to wait an hour or more for
an ambulance and paramedics to arrive. Extending emergency medical
services and basic life support equipment to every community will be the
top priority for every community council nationwide.
The advent of climate
change is bringing with it more severe and frequent weather events. It’s
essential that communities be ready to respond to these events to save
lives and prevent or mitigate property damage. To achieve this,
community councils must recruit and train first responders in fire
prevention and suppression techniques, as well as in storm and flooding
search and rescue techniques, and provide them with the necessary
equipment. Communities cannot continue to depend on or wait for a poorly
equipped county government for relief.
Impact on democracy:
The
introduction of duly credentialed local communities into the government
apparatus will bring about a fundamental change in the way government is
viewed and functions. The collective voice of local communities
has never been heard in the corridors of power; therefore, it has not
influenced the laws that have been crafted there. The pulse of local
communities measures the health of the body politic, a vital marker that
government decision-makers cannot ignore at all levels.
Every community has
able-bodied men and women
living within its borders, willing to volunteer their time and talents
in service to their community in a common cause. Some of these
volunteers, who possess the necessary skill sets and expertise, will be
assigned to the emergency response teams. Others will be assigned to
programs and tasks commensurate
with their skill sets and preferences. In all cases, the necessary
training and equipment will be provided.
Unlike other government entities, community councils
are the closest government entity to the constituents they serve, a
unique relationship that fosters a natural affinity and a common
mission. On the other hand, constituents very seldom see or meet with
their national or county government representatives, who seem to operate
in a world apart from the needs and concerns of the average citizen.
The collective voice of communities nationwide will
change the way the government operates and involve more citizens in the
democratic process, thereby setting the stage for a more equitable
society in which national wealth is less concentrated in the hands of
the few who live at the expense of the many.
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