Minister Joe O’Brien urges community groups to join the Fingal Public Participation Network

Minister Joe O’Brien urges Fingal community groups to join the Fingal Public Participation Network as national awareness campaign launched

· New public awareness campaign for Public Participation Networks (PPNs) launched

· Call for community groups to join PPNs and have greater voice in local decision-making

· 18,000 groups across Ireland already helping to ‘Build a better future’ through their involvement

Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development, Charities and Integration, Joe O’Brien TD, has today (Tuesday, 21 February) launched a new national awareness campaign to encourage community groups to join their local Public Participation Networks (PPN).

Public Participation Networks allow local authorities to connect with community groups around the country and give people a greater say in local government decisions that affect their communities.

Fingal County Council has its own PPN supporting the work of community groups in the local area.

Speaking at an event to launch a new national awareness campaign for Public Participation Networks, Minister Joe O’Brien said:

“Public Participation Networks give communities across Ireland a voice in local decision-making and bring valuable on-the-ground, experience, and expertise into local and national policy development.

“The strength and impact of Fingal’s PPN can be seen in how they represented volunteers and community groups within the responses to Covid-19, working with the local authority and state agencies.

“Through local action, PPNs also contribute to policymaking at national level, such as the development of the Climate Action Plan 2021, when PPNs hosted and facilitated import/ant local community conversations around the country.”

Membership of a local PPN also gives groups access to a range of other benefits including bespoke training programmes, information on funding and grants, and on proposals or decisions being made in their county, as well as networking and learning opportunities with other local organisations.

Another aim of the campaign, launched today, is to encourage groups that represent young and marginalised people to join their local PPN.

Concluding, Minister O’Brien said:

“I am delighted to launch the Public Participation Networks awareness campaign today.

“We want to highlight their important role and functions so people know how Public Participation Networks allow them to make a difference and ‘build a better future’ and better communities for everyone.

“I want to invite local groups around Fingal to join their PPN and help shape local solutions to local issues.”

The website of the Fingal PPN is available at fingalppn.ie. Members can join the Fingal PPN Register here. Registered organisations gain access to a range of funding supports, training programmes, and other initiatives supported by Fingal PPN and Fingal County Council.