Dr Mark Garavan

Graduate of UCG with a degree in Political Science and Legal Science in 1985, a PhD in sociology in NUI Galway in 2004. I also studied philosophy for a year (1986-87) in Milltown Institute of Philosophy and Theology.

Economists taking over.!

The experts and their expertise, which led us into this economic mess and recession in Ireland, are the same ones leading us out of it. The economists are taking over. The effects of economic cutbacks must be looked at in broad terms as to their overall affect, not just in economic terms.

One of the difficulties in recent decades is that Development has been solely measured in economic terms by which is usually meant monetary terms. Reflections on Development tend to be described only in economic growth terms. However there is something slightly dysfunctional about this approach because lots of things that generate economic activity are not necessarily good for us, either socially or environmentally.

There are gains and losses and notions of progress; that things will get better. The horizon of hope is dulled at the moment with few job prospects. Development does involve wealth but wealth and money do not always bring happiness.

What do we need to develop and sustain our communities?

Possible solutions

1.      Stop being dependent. The state won’t fix our problems. We need to empower from the bottom up, not from the top down. Our political culture is part of our problem.

2.      Build a culture of social engagement. Get people and groups involved with each other and get rid of the apathy that currently exists.

3.      Build democratic, participatory social forms to fix things locally by collective effort. Make use of the unemployed to create meaningful improvements to enhance local communities.

4.      Develop Local Exchange Trading Systems (LETS), a community based trading system. Create a local economy outside of the cash economy.

5.      Mobilise our resources. Land is under used in Ireland today. Food is the key resource, a basic need.

6.      Develop local energy systems by using hydro or wind opportunities. Use local electricity at community level and thus look after one another.

7.      Minding our environment and ecology. If we pollute then we are destroying ourselves

8.      Build resilient, happy communities. We would know our food is safe, our environment is safe and we could recreate our communities in a meaningful way.

Kiltimagh Town Case Study

In 1998 the town of Kiltimagh was dying. It had 75% out-migration levels, 40% of its buildings were derelict, no investment in businesses, high unemployment and low income levels. It had further handicaps such as no natural tourism, poor land, small farms, poor roads, no passing traffic and relative poverty. But it had three great assets: people, community spirit and pride of place.

A group of 10 people came together realising that that the solution to the problem was neither a simple or a short term action. A prospectus was prepared and was used to carry out a door to door collection which raised €41 k in 1989 on the basis of €2 per week per wage earner. The local community also gave of their time to serve as voluntary members of the board of directors of IRD and of working groups.

Over the past 15 years Kiltimagh has become a vibrant town boasting of facilities which many towns twice its size lack. The people put their shoulder to the wheel when it was needed most. Since its inception IRD Kiltimagh Ltd has been innovative and proactive in devising and implementing a wide ranging development programme for Kiltimagh and the broader area. This programme has been viewed objectively by large numbers of people who have acclaimed its success and in many cases tried to emulate the activities and structures in their own area.

The main results of the programme include:

550 jobs that most likely would not exist but for the existence of IRD

28% growth in local population from 1996-2006

30% annual economic activity increase 1995-1998

6% increase in number of children attending local national school

34 units of social housing have been provided.