LDC
Local Development Companies (LDCs) are independent, not‑for‑profit organisations rooted in their communities and mandated to foster inclusive social, economic and environmental progress.
What are Local Development Companies?
Operating in every county and main urban centre of Ireland, each LDC is governed by a voluntary board that brings together local residents, community and voluntary groups, social partners, and public‑sector agencies. This blended governance model ensures that the voices of those who live and work in an area are represented alongside the statutory bodies that shape wider policy.
Why do they exist?
Every community has its own strengths and its own challenges. Some barriers to opportunity are highly local – perhaps a rural village has limited transport links, or an inner‑city estate needs safe recreational space. Others, such as long‑term unemployment or climate resilience, are national in scale and require coordinated action. LDCs bridge that gap.
By listening on the ground and working in partnership with state departments, they help to adapt national programmes to local realities, while also channelling grassroots experience back to policymakers. The result is solutions that are practical, evidence‑based and genuinely community‑owned.
What do they do?
LDCs deliver a broad portfolio of programmes, including SICAP (social inclusion), LEADER (rural development), enterprise supports, training and up‑skilling, social farming, Tús and Rural Social Scheme placements, environmental projects, and initiatives that improve health and wellbeing.
Front‑line staff – development officers, enterprise advisers, outreach workers and tutors – engage daily with individuals, community groups and small businesses, providing tailored guidance that moves people towards employment, education, start‑up funding or wider civic participation. Because these services sit side by side within one organisation, clients experience a seamless pathway rather than a maze of separate schemes.
How do they work?
Transparency and collaboration define the LDC approach. Regular community consultations, needs analyses and impact reviews keep programmes responsive and accountable.
The Wraparound Approach
The wraparound approach unique to local development companies involves supporting individuals through a range of interconnected programmes based on their needs. For example, someone entering through the Local Area Employment Service (LAES), which supports those who are long-term unemployed, may also be referred to complementary initiatives like SICAP, a wellbeing programme that builds confidence and personal development.
This holistic method ensures individuals are not seen through a single lens but are offered tailored supports that address employment, mental health, education, and social inclusion. It creates a more sustainable pathway to progress by meeting people where they are.
How are they funded?
LDCs blend multiple revenue streams, chiefly government contracts for programme delivery – secured through competitive tenders – complemented by EU funds, philanthropic grants and earned income from social enterprises. Every euro is reinvested in community outcomes, and audited accounts are published annually.
In essence, a Local Development Company is the community’s innovation hub and advocacy voice rolled into one: locally anchored, nationally connected, and relentlessly focused on enabling people and places to thrive.