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A Stakeholder Working Group (SWG) for the review of local authority Strategic Policy Committees
From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
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The Department took the opportunity to undertake an independent review of the operation of Strategic Policy Committees. A Stakeholder Working Group (SWG) was established to guide, advise and oversee the review. Secretariat support was provided by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The IPA carried out the review and submitted a report to the SWG for its commentary.
The review included a process of research and consultation, an evaluation of existing arrangements, and a series of recommendations for adjustments to current arrangements.
The IPA’s final Report and the Stakeholder Working Group’s commentary on that report may be accessed below.
Revised SPC guidelines were published by the Department in June 2024, and are available below:
| Name of member | Organisation | Previously a Designated Public Official? (For non public service members) |
| Diarmuid O’Leary (Chair) | Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage | - |
| Cllr Nick Killian | Association of Irish Local Government | - |
| Cllr Anne Colgan | Association of Irish Local Government | - |
| Cllr Micheál Anglim | Local Authority Members Association | - |
| Cllr John Sheahan | Local Authority Members Association | - |
| Amanda Byrne (from 10 November 2022) | County and City Management Association | - |
| Louise Purcell | Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage | - |
| Eoin Colleary | Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage | - |
| Grant Couper (secretary to the Group) | Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage | - |
| Brian Loughlin | Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage | - |
| Anthony O’Mahony | Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage | - |
| Kieran Moylan | Department of Rural and Community Development | - |
| Niall Cussen | Office of the Planning Regulator | - |
| Susan O’Toole (from 28 March 2023) | Local Government Management Agency | - |
| Liam Berney | Irish Congress of Trade Unions | No |
| Mr Charles Stanley-Smith (from 30 November 2023) | Public Participation Network National Advisory Group | No |
| Aebhric McGibney | Chambers Ireland (Dublin Chamber) | No |
| Alice Doyle (from 2 February 2024) | Irish Farmers’ Association | |
| Tony McCarthy | Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Public Participation Network – Community and Voluntary Pillar, Secretariat | No |
| Derry O’Farrell | Cork City Public Participation Network – Environmental Pillar, Secretariat | No |
| Deirdre Arnold | Offaly Public Participation Network – Social Inclusion, Representative | No |
| Eoghan Ryan (from 29 January 2024) | Kildare County Council | - |
| Eamon Lonergan (from February 2024) | Tipperary County Council | - |
Terms of Reference - Stakeholder Working Group (SWG) for the review of local authority Strategic Policy Committees
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The Stakeholder Working Group overseeing the review of local authority Strategic Policy Committees a "relevant body" as defined under the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015. It complies with the provisions under the associated Transparency Code and is therefore exempted from the requirement to register and report on lobbying activities.