Evaluation of Empowering Community Pilot Programme (ECPP)
Tender Brief

Overview

The Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (DRCDG) wish to contract a suitably qualified and appropriately experienced consultant(s) to undertake an evaluation of the overall impact and specific outcomes achieved under the ECPP to date in the communities supported by the programme.

As we enter Year 3 of the ECPP, it is timely to assess the effectiveness of this funding programme. This evaluation will involve collecting and analysing data to determine to what extent the programme is meeting its overall goals and specific objectives and what the impact of the programme has been on communities living in the small areas of disadvantage where the programme is being delivered. It will also make recommendations on the future direction of the programme.

Background

Funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, the ECPP commenced in 2022, providing funding for an initial 14 projects. At present there are 17 projects supported under the programme, with annual funding of €2.3 million.

The areas selected for funding under the ECPP are areas classified as either very or extremely disadvantaged identified using the Pobal HP Deprivation Index which is the primary tool used to identify areas in need. Final funding allocations are approved by the Minister.

The ECPP programme implementers in any given area are the Local Development Company (LDC) with the relevant Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) having an oversight role.

The aim of ECPP is to empower local communities to craft their own response to area-based poverty, social exclusion and the resulting consequences, with the support of the relevant Local Community Development Committee (LCDC).

The specific objectives of the programme are:

1. To support a community development approach to area-based poverty and social exclusion.
2. To build leadership within communities, supporting and enhancing collaboration between existing community structures to develop and help implement tailored community work responses to the specific challenges faced locally.
3. To empower local communities to craft their own response to tackling community challenges.

Under Budget 2025, additional funding of €1 million has been secured for the ECPP. Consideration is currently being given as to how this additional funding can be utilised to maximum effect for communities that are experiencing disadvantage.

The ECPP is currently funded on an annual basis based on the outcome of the Budgetary Estimates process. The ECPP is supported by the ECPP Working Group that is chaired by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, with members from local authorities, Local Development Company Network (LDCN) and Local Development Companies (LDCs).

The deadline for submission of Tenders is 17:00hrs on Thursday 31 July 2025.

Meastóireacht ar an gClár Píolótach um Chumhachtú Pobail (ECPP)
Achoimre Tairisceana

Forléargas

Is mian leis an Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta (RFTPG) conradh a dhéanamh le sainchomhairleoir(í) a bhfuil na cáilíochtaí agus taithí chuí acu chun meastóireacht a dhéanamh ar an tionchar foriomlán agus ar na torthaí sonracha atá bainte amach faoin ECPP go dtí seo sna pobail a fhaigheann tacaíocht ón gclár.

Agus muid ag dul isteach i mBliain 3 den ECPP, tá sé tráthúil measúnú a dhéanamh ar éifeachtacht an chláir mhaoinithe seo. Is é a bheidh i gceist leis an meastóireacht seo sonraí a bhailiú agus anailís a dhéanamh orthu chun a chinneadh cé mhéad den chlár atá ag comhlíonadh a spriocanna foriomlána agus a chuspóirí sonracha agus cén tionchar a bhí ag an gclár ar phobail atá ina gcónaí sna ceantair bheaga faoi mhíbhuntáiste ina bhfuil an clár á chur ar fáil. Déanfar moltaí freisin maidir le treo an chláir amach anseo.

Buneolas

Arna mhaoiniú ag an Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta, cuireadh tús leis an ECPP in 2022, agus cuireadh maoiniú ar fáil do 14 thionscadal tosaigh. Faoi láthair tá 17 dtionscadal á dtacú faoin gclár, le maoiniú bliantúil €2.3 milliún.

Is áiteanna iad na limistéir a roghnaíodh le haghaidh maoinithe faoin ECPP a aicmíodh ina n-áiteanna atá faoi an-mhíbhuntáiste agus a aithníodh ag baint úsáid as Innéacs Díothachta HP Phobal, arb é an phríomhuirlis é a úsáidtear chun limistéir ina bhfuil daoine atá i ngátar a aithint. Is é an tAire a cheadaíonn leithdháiltí deiridh maoinithe.

Is í an Chuideachta Forbartha Áitiúil (CFÁ) feidhmitheoirí chlár ECPP in aon cheantar ar leith agus tá ról maoirseachta ag an gCoiste Forbartha Pobail Áitiúil ábhartha (CFPÁ).

Is é aidhm ECPP pobail áitiúla a chumhachtú chun a bhfreagairt féin a chruthú ar bhochtaineacht cheantarbhunaithe, eisiamh sóisialta agus na hiarmhairtí dá bharr sin, agus tacaíocht á fáil acu ón gCoiste Forbartha Pobail Áitiúil ábhartha (CFPÁ).

Is iad seo a leanas cuspóirí sonracha an chláir:

1. Tacú le cur chuige forbartha pobail chun aghaidh a thabhairt ar bhochtaineacht limistéarbhunaithe agus eisiamh sóisialta.
2. Ceannaireacht a fhorbairt laistigh de phobail, ag tacú le comhoibriú idir struchtúir phobail atá ann cheana féin chun freagairtí saincheaptha oibre pobail a fhorbairt agus a chur i bhfeidhm chun dul i ngleic leis na dúshláin shonracha a bhíonn ann go háitiúil.
3. Pobail áitiúla a chumhachtú chun a bhfreagra féin a chruthú chun aghaidh a thabhairt ar dhúshláin phobail.

Faoi Bhuiséad 2025, tá cistiú breise €1 mhilliún faighte don ECPP. Tá breithniú á dhéanamh faoi láthair conas is féidir an maoiniú breise sin a úsáid chun an éifeacht is fearr a bhaint as le haghaidh pobail atá faoi mhíbhuntáiste.

Faoi láthair, déantar an ECPP a mhaoiniú ar bhonn bliantúil bunaithe ar thorthaí phróiseas na Meastachán Buiséadach. Faigheann an ECPP tacaíocht ó Ghrúpa Oibre ECPP atá faoi chathaoirleacht na Roinne Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta, le baill ó údaráis áitiúla, Líonra na gCuideachtaí Forbartha Áitiúla (LCFÁ) agus Cuideachtaí Forbartha Áitiúla (LCFÁnna).

Is é an spriocdháta chun Tairiscintí a chur isteach 17:00 Déardaoin an 31 Iúil 2025.