Showroom: Best Practice in Politics

Best Practice in Politics

We curate exemplary political work that successfully tackles today’s most pressing issues. This platform is a hub of tried and tested best practices in politics.

300K – Have Your Say – Participatory Budgeting

Citizens in South Dublin vote to allocate a portion of the council’s budget to projects designed and submitted by residents.

A New Public Library Strategy: Inspiring, Connecting, and Empowering Communities

Irish libraries evolve into accessible community hubs that meet the needs of their communities.

Age Friendly Business Recognition Programme

Businesses consult with older customers about the changes they could make to improve their services, and in doing so engage with an often neglected but expanding consumer base.

Age-Friendly Housing Technical Specialists in Irish Local Authorities

Age Friendly Housing Specialists advise local government on how to improve housing options for older residents.

Age-Friendly Ireland

Ireland has become a world leader in addressing elderly people’s issues, by setting up participative councils, making businesses aware, and preparing for population ageing.

Athboy Walkability and Inclusive Town Developments

Athboy town ensures accessibility and inclusivity for all citizens regardless of age, physical, cognitive, or sensory impairment.

Atlantic Economic Corridor

This initiative connects remote areas with different types of infrastructure, and is designed to promote investment, living, learning, and prosperity along the Atlantic coast region of Ireland.

Celebrating the Beauty of Diversity

This one–day festival aims to showcase the beauty and richness of faith and culture from the diverse faith communities in Dublin City, inspiring people to take positive actions in their communities and workplaces.

Creative Ireland Programme

The creativity of Irish citizens is supported and promoted through a programme dedicated to its integration into public policy.

Divestment from Fossil Fuels

A law is passed to divest public funds from companies who explore, extract, or process fossil fuels.

Driving STEM in the Midlands of Ireland

Ireland’s Midlands is creating the nation’s first regional STEM ecosystem—uniting local government, educators, industry, and communities to equip the next generation for the future of work.

Dublin Bikes

One of the world’s most successful bike sharing schemes provides green, healthy, and accessible city transport for the masses.

Dunmanway Community Garden

A community garden represents much needed communal space, in a small town in Ireland, that aims to be inclusive for all people.

Establishing Rural Working Hubs

Targeted redevelopment establishes Rural Working Hubs to meet local needs while also contributing to a more economically and environmentally sustainable future.

Ireland’s LGBTI+ Youth Strategy

LGBTI+ is at the forefront of a three-year action strategy in Ireland to improve the lives of LGBTI+ young people, and to understand the challenges they face today.

Irish Constitutional Convention 2013

A major experiment on deliberative democracy leads to the approval of same-sex marriage through a Constitutional Convention, consisting of two-thirds randomly chosen citizens and one-third parliamentarians.

Legislation and Policy to Protect Victims and Tackle Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence

Groundbreaking Irish legislation grants protections for women against gender-based domestic violence.

Longford Nua

Through a new online platform, Longford residents can take a more active role in shaping the future of their county.

Marriage Equality

The traditionally controversial measure of same-sex marriage is first introduced by referendum, which leads to its legalisation in Ireland.

Moyross Training at The Bays

A trades-based training approach in a facility for young adults fills key-skill gaps in the local labour market.

Natural Play Space Programme

Children co-create their own ecological and easily accessable play-spaces within urban areas, to promote healthy lifestyles, inclusive development, and community-building.

Our Balbriggan Rejuvenation Plan 2019-2025

Participative public consultations and citizen engagement help a young and diverse town deliver nearly a hundred action items, to rejuvenate the town centre, improve public areas, and enhance residents’ lives.

Peace Link – Building Relations Through Sport

Transnational community building happens through shared activities in this sports facility on the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland border, that focuses on building peaceful relations.

Protecting the Night Skies of County Mayo

A community-driven project protects County Mayo’s dark skies, which benefits local ecology and boosts tourism.

Protection for Freelance Workers

Pioneering legislation on workers rights gives freelancers the chance to better negotiate their fees and to be collectively represented by trade unions.

Reproductive Justice

An amendment to Irish law is designed to hold Irish hospitals accountable for maternal deaths.

SHE – See Her Elected

This community-led initiative supports women into politics in rural areas of Ireland, strengthening local and national democracy by increasing the diversity of political participation.

The Vision Symphony

Visually impaired musicians participate in research which helps them improve memorisation techniques, and thus preparing the musicians to perform a newly composed Irish symphony with an orchestra.

Vacant Homes

An innovative crowd-sourcing approach is implemented in response to Ireland’s housing crisis, allowing local residents to register vacant homes in their area and help create new homes from the existing housing stock.

Waterford Greenway

A hiking trail built along a disused railway line from Waterford to Dungarvan encourages new tourism in Ireland.

WoMeN’s Regional Caucus

For the first time, women from neighbouring councils in the Western-Midlands-Northern region of Ireland work together to bring about change, creating a safe space for mutual learning, mentorship, and the exchange of ideas.

Your Vote Your Voice

Monaghan County Council has developed an easy-to-read guide to the voting process, with a focus on the needs of disabled voters.

Youth Travel Card

This card makes public transport sustainable and affordable for young people in Ireland, and is the first time a proposal from Dáil na nÓg (National Youth Parliament) and Comhairle na nÓg (Local Youth Councils) has been included in the Government’s National Budget.