Minister allocates €74,000 to county council for Hybrid Council Meetings Scheme

Alan Dillon TD, Minister of State for Planning and Local Government, has announced funding of €74,000 for Westmeath County Council as part of an overall scheme offering financial supports to local authorities to facilitate the running of hybrid meetings.

Funding of €231,246 is provided this year to five local and regional authorities, to expand video conferencing facilities to allow remote attendance at council and assembly meetings.

Minister Dillon said: “This year, I am allocating €74,000 to Westmeath County Council for this purpose, and I am pleased that Westmeath County Council will also make a contribution (of €90,000) to the project, showing our shared commitment to family- and caring- friendly councils.

“This scheme is just one of a range of initiatives introduced by my department which aim to make the role of the councillor more accessible and sustainable, especially for those with family and other caring commitments.

“The funding is to build on that work, by allowing for more flexible participation in local democracy, particularly in local authorities where the participation of women is lower.”

This round of funding comes following the rollout of a pilot scheme in 2023, under which four local authorities received support. Building on that, applications were invited from local authorities and regional assemblies where the IT infrastructure in any chamber was inadequate for the running of hybrid meetings.

Local authorities were requested to set out in detail the existing facilities in their council chambers, the estimated costs associated with the proposed project, and their ability to tender for the project on receipt of approval.

Funding under the scheme was allocated based on the greatest need, and consideration was given to the local authority’s ability to partially fund the project.

Minister Dillon said: “It is encouraging to see that local authorities are leading the way in adaptive and dynamic work practices across the country. It is my hope that these positive changes, in concert with other programmes brought forward by my department, can create an equality of opportunity for all to participate in Irish local government.”