AILG President, Cllr. Mick Cahill & AILG Vice President Cllr. Anne Colgan with guest speaker Duncan Stewart at the AILG Annual Conference, March 2020.
AILG Spring 2020 Newsletter is available to download. Please go to Recent General Items to download your copy
Due to the ongoing Covid-19 Crisis the AILG 2020 Elected Member Training Programme is currently on hold in accordance with the National Public Health Measures. We will keep members informed as soon as our training programme can resume. Please stay safe.
As part of the AILG Annual Conference held on the 5th March in Longford, the AILG hosted an inaugural Women’s Local Government Network meeting. The purpose of this session at our Annual Conference was to help and give guidance on the establishment of Women Caucuses or Network’s at local authority level in order to enable women to strengthen their impact and bring about equality between women and men in the membership and work of Local Authorities.
Plans are underway to expand the capacity of the Association so that it becomes an effective representative body and support network for all elected members. We have undertaken the most fundamental review of the AILG, to ensure that our association is fit for purpose, to be in the best possible position to serve our members into the future. Over the next few short months you, our members, will see an enhanced service delivery by the AILG in areas as improved communications, media and public relations, policy research and development, certified member training and mental health and well-being supports.
Each local authority (council) has established a Community Response Forum to coordinate COVID-19 related community supports. As part of this, each local authority has established a helpline that vulnerable people can phone if they are looking for basic services such as delivery of food or meals, or transport for essential trips. If you need to talk or are looking for emotional support, you can call 0818 222 024 or your call can be directed from your local Covid-19 Community Response Forum helpline.
Message from Cllr. Mick Cahill, President AILG 2019/20:
"The Association of Irish Local Government is the primary body representing the democratically elected members and their member local authority. The AILG is a networking, policy development and training resource for the elected members of Ireland’s thirty-one County and City Councils. The Association works with our delegates in each of the councils to help develop a sense of collegiality among the elected members who serve the public in a variety of local government settings, ranging from urban to suburban and rural. Through regular interaction with other stakeholders in the local government environment, the AILG aims to ensure that the contribution of Ireland’s democratically elected Councillors is appreciated in Government Departments and throughout the full range of public agencies."
Cllr. Cahill is a member of Longford County Council, representing the Ballymahon Electoral Area, Cllr. Cahill was elected President of the AILG at it's recent AGM held on the 19th September 2019 in Ballinasloe, Co. Galway.
Speaking following his election as President, Cllr. Cahill stated that it is a massive privilege to have been elected by members across Ireland, to the position of National President of the Association of Irish Local Government (AILG). He said "The AILG trains and pioneers capacity building and policy development for locally elected representatives so they can serve their communities to the highest standard possible. I intend to bring new energy and drive to it's work and I'm looking forward to the challenge this year."
"‘The AILG is a national representative body that represents and supports the role of our elected councillors. We are a strong voice for local communities through effective local government.’”.
