Download PPN Presentation 2016 - Donegal County Council

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
NETWORKS
Deirdre Kearney
Department of the Environment, Community and
Local Government
2016
Context: Local Government Reform
• Revised local government arrangements
• Local Government as leader of change in local
economic, social and cultural affairs
• Citizen focused, building democracy,
participation, engagement
• Enhanced role for the elected members
• Section 46 of LG Reform Act – replaces Section
127 of 2001 Act
• 2 years on – what has been achieved and what’s
new for 2016
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The Public Participation Network (PPN)
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LA staff and volunteers put great effort into developing PPN Structure over the
last 18 months. Social Justice Ireland workshops. Financial support from Dept.
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PPNs are a new framework for public engagement and participation in the local
authority system
– community & voluntary, social inclusion and environmental groupings
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These groups work together on agreed objectives based on promoting the wellbeing of this and future generations
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The PPN is the main link through which the local authority connects with the
community, voluntary and environmental sectors
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PPNs designed to accommodate the full range of diversity of volunteer-led
organisations in the city/county
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The role of the Network 1
• To develop a vision for the well-being of this and
future generations.
• To facilitate opportunities for networking,
communication and the sharing of information.
• To identify issues of collective concern and work
to influence policy locally in relation to these
issues.
• To actively support inclusion of socially excluded
groups, communities experiencing high levels of
poverty, communities experiencing
discrimination.
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The role of the Network 2
• To encourage and enable public participation in local decision making
and planning of services
• To facilitate the election of participants from the environmental,
social inclusion and community/voluntary sectors onto city/county
decision making bodies.
• To support a process that will feed the broad range of ideas,
experience, suggestions and proposals of the Network into policies
and plans being developed by agencies and decision makers in areas
that are of interest and relevant to the Network
– Examples:
LECP
Framework Policy on Local and Community Development
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The role of the Network 3
• To work to develop the C&V sector to have a
strong collective voice
• To support the individual members of the Public
Participation Network so that:
– They can develop their capacity and do their
work effectively.
– They can participate effectively in the Public
Participation Network activities.
– They are included in local decision-making and their
voices and concerns are heard.
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The Structure - Electoral
Colleges/Groupings
•Environment
•Social Inclusion
•Community & Voluntary
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Guiding Principles
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Active Citizenship
Resource Allocation and Promotion of Equality
Helping to engage with issues affecting people
Respect for individual freedom
Social Dialogue
Participation
Trust
Accountability and Transparency
Independence
Structure of PPNs
• PPN organised at County/City level and Municipal
District (MD) level
• Each PPN should have:
– a County/City plenary which deals with issues at
County/City level
– a MD plenary which deals with issues at municipal level
• For many groups, MD level of engagement has more
immediate relevance to their needs than larger
county/city structure
• Linkage Groups will deal with specific issues
• Secretariat at County/City level for administration
Linkage Groups
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Linkage Groups are the way PPNs have real input into policy
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Linkage Groups bring together reps with common interest to discuss views on
particular subjects
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They elect PPN reps to Boards or committees and receive feedback from these
reps. These reps must represent the views of all members of the linkage group,
not just their own organisation
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PPNs will not arrive at a “one voice” response but will feed back issues and
suggestions raised by groups
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Where contradictory responses presented to LA, ultimate responsibility for
resolving issue lies with elected members.
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Guidelines
• Circulars in 2014 – to give guidance to Local
Authorities on setting up the new arrangements
• Circulars in 2015
1. to give guidance on funding for resource worker,
sample documents for PPN establishment - Draft
MOU/SLA, Work plan, job Specs, Employment
options etc.
2. To give guidance on financial Reporting to Dept.
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Funding
• 2014 - €12K Start up funding
• 2015 - €80K (€50K Department/€30K
Local)
• Similar funding proposed for 2016 i.e.
€50k/€30k subject to approval from
new Minister
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Next Steps
• Supports and Capacity Building (Sector and LA)
• Database Development. Will be initiated by
pilot project, starting now and ultimately rolled
out to all PPNs by end 2016. Dept will fund the
development of this system
• National Advisory/Enabling Group – TOR’s
Drafted, indicative membership set out.
Logistics to be finalised and further
communications to issue
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THANK YOU
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