Fingal County Council welcomes launch of Public Participation Network strategy
Mayor of Fingal Mary McCamley and Chief Executive of Fingal County Council Paul Reid welcomed the launch of the Fingal Public Participation Network Strategic Plan 2018 – 2021 on Tuesday April 24.
The Strategic Plan sets out a roadmap for the development and growth of Fingal Public Participation Network (PPN). The PPN is a network of over 500 community, voluntary, environment and social inclusion groups from across Fingal and aims to support these groups to influence local policy and change.
Welcoming the plan, Mayor McCamley noted “The PPN is an important structure in local democracy. It exists to help community groups from across Fingal get involved in policy making but also to network with one another, avail of training and be better informed regarding what is going on across the county.”
Launching the Fingal PPN Strategic Plan 2018 – 2021 are Íde De Bairtiséil Senior Executive Officer Fingal County Council, Jamie Moore PPN Resource Worker, Mayor of Fingal Cllr. Mary McCamley, Paul Reid Chief Executive, Fingal County Council and Ian Murphy PPN Member Fingal Orienteers.
Paul Reid, Chief Executive of Fingal County Council recognised the PPN as a means for the Council to engage with communities “With Fingal being one of the most diverse areas in Europe in terms of its population and composition of its communities, the PPN is a vehicle that the Council can use to support the engagement of these communities and to facilitate their issues being brought to the fore. In Fingal, we want to be at the forefront of supporting the PPN to fulfil its role.”
Fingal PPN Secretariat member Mary Harford stated “This is a plan that belongs to the community and needs the support of the community to achieve it. There is power in numbers, and we exist to help build the confidence and capacity of communities to seek solutions to issues they are experiencing on the ground. With the backing of the community, the PPN could be a catalyst for change.”
Commenting on the plan, Jamie Moore, PPN Resource Worker mentioned “At the heart of this plan is a Fingal Wellbeing Statement. This statement will guide how the PPN will approach its work going forward, and is very much focused on healthy, safe and inclusive communities with opportunities to grow personally, be heard in decision making and access critical services.”
The Fingal PPN plays an important role in representing communities in local decision making and policy making structures. Fingal PPN also provides training, networking opportunities and funding information to members. To find out more about the PPN or to get involved visit www.fingalppn.ie.