The development of local agenda 21 in the Mid-west region of Ireland: A case study in interactive research and indicator development

Local Agenda 21 stresses the importance of local accountability, interaction, active citizenship and quality of life. To be effective at local and regional levels, sustainability indicators must reflect community values, concerns and hopes for the future. Meaningful interactive participation in the development of a set of indicators demands enduring and effective communication between researchers, policy makers and 'user groups'. In 1998 the Centre for Environmental Research, University of Limerick, in association with the four main local authorities in the Mid-west region of Ireland (Limerick City Council, Limerick County Council, Clare County Council and Tipperary County Council) commenced a project to promote sustainable development in the region. This paper provides a description and critique of a case study in the interactive research process as a novel methodology designed to encourage active citizenship and participation. Interaction occurred among groups representative of the local authorities, the communities and university-based researchers. These groups collaborated in the iterative selection of a representative set of indicators for application in the region, as a prerequisite for incorporating sustainable development into local authority decision making. The paper concludes with an evaluation of the success of this application of the interactive research process.