Laois Community Forum

Laois Community Forum was established in 2000, as part of the process of setting up the County Development Board. The Community and Voluntary Sector is one of the Social Partners within the structure of the Board, and two of the Community Forum Members sit on the Board. A democratically elected Community Forum of 18 members (who represent the 5 electoral areas within the county) operates at a county level. There are over 500 Community & Voluntary groups currently registered to date with Laois Community Forum.

Laois County Community Forum was established to promote the participation of the community and voluntary sector in local decision-making in County Laois.

In 2000 and again following local elections in 2009, all community and voluntary groups in the county were asked to register with the Laois County Community Forum and consulted on how to constitute the Forum and hold elections.

18 members represent community & voluntary groups/organisations and form an executive representing the five electoral areas in the county;  Portlaoise, Mountmellick, Emo, Borris in Ossory and Luggacurran.

Groups are registered in two clusters:
Cluster 1:  Focus on economic/social/development and anti-disadvantage
Cluster 2: Focus on cultural/sporting/recreational/residence association type work

Purpose:
An integral part of the County Development Board process is the establishment and support of a Community Forum. The purpose of the Community Forum is to facilitate the representation of and participation by community and voluntary groups in matters relating to Laois County Development Board, Laois County Council and other statutory bodies. The Community Forum is also represented on other constituent bodies of the Board, to represent the views and raise the issues of the community and voluntary sector at this level also.