The Local Government Reform Act 2014 provides for the establishment of Local Community Development Committees in each local authority area. One of the primary functions of the LCDCs is to develop, implement and monitor a six-year Local Economic and Community Plan for the local authority area.

The Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP) sets out the objectives and actions needed to promote and support the economic development and the local and community development of County Meath over the next six years. The Plan will serve as the primary strategy guiding development in County Meath.

Economic development and local and community development, while separate functions, which involve different challenges and approaches, are mutually supportive in creating strong communities and local economies. The LECP represents an integrated plan, and its implementation will require ongoing integration between the two components in order to ensure a coordinated delivery of actions for both economic and community development.

The LECP will enable a targeting of resources under the direct management of the LCDC, under the management of LCDC partners, and under the direct management of other publicly funded local development agencies and bodies not on the LCDC. It will be action focused and will be delivered through a combination of local authority programmes and the programmes of other stakeholders.