How to apply
Becoming a member of Galway City Community Network, the Public Participation Network in Galway, is easy – follow the steps below to apply.
Step 1
Read the criteria outlined here and make sure that your group or organisation satisfies what is laid out.
GCCN Membership Criteria - click to view
As part of the reform of Local Government Act 2014, local authorities are required to establish Public Participation Networks in each local authority area. Galway City Community Network (GCCN) is the Public Participation Network for Galway City.
To qualify for PPN membership you must have/be the following:
- Be active in Galway City
- Have more than five (5) members
- Have a written Constitution or Memorandum & Articles of Association (if applying organisations are companies limited by guarantee, they should be not for profit)
- Be open to new members, if a membership-based organisation, or be open to new board members as appropriate. To facilitate inclusion, please ensure that a contact email address for the group/organisation is available to new and potential members
- Be non-party political and non-sectarian
- Be broadly representative and accountable
- Hold an AGM and regular meetings
- Be independent, with a committee or board (not a substructure or subcommittee)
- Be a minimum of six months in existence
- If a company limited by guarantee, the organisation must be not for profit
- Groups must be able to establish their bona fides as a community, voluntary or environmental organisation
- Groups/organisations registering under the Environment Electoral College must be validated by the Environmental Pillar at a national level. Check the PPN Environmental College criteria (Jan 2024) – HERE
Please note: Groups formed around specific local issues are not eligible for PPN membership. For example, groups formed around opposition to a particular local planning application.
A group/organisation’s membership of GCCN may be reviewed by the GCCN Secretariat if at any time the organisation claims to speak on behalf of/or represent GCCN without mandate;
A member group/organisation shall cease to be a member of GCCN if the organisation no longer qualifies under the conditions laid down in the criteria for membership.
The following are not eligible for membership of GCCN:
- Groups/organisations who do not meet the GCCN Membership Criteria
- State or semi-state bodies;
- Local development agencies;
- Groups/organisations who have representation through other pillars of social partnership (e.g. trade unions, farming and business organisations).
In the event of a dispute regarding eligibility, GCCN will determine eligibility for affiliation.
For more information contact us at communications (at) gccn . ie
GCCN Pillars/Electoral Colleges - click to veiw
When you join GCCN, you will have to select a Pillar (also known as Electoral College). There are three GCCN Pillars as follows:
- Social Inclusion: Groups and organisations whose primary objectives and activities focus on social inclusion/social justice/equality can join the Social Inclusion Pillar.
- Environment: To join the Environment Pillar a groups or organisation’s primary objectives and activities must be environmental (i.e. ecological) protection and/or environmental sustainability. Membership of this GCCN Pillar must be first validated by the Environmental Pillar at a national level. For more information see the Additional Information for Environmental Groups below.
- Voluntary: Groups and organisations whose primary objectives are other than those listed above will be members of the Community/Voluntary Pillar.
Additional Information for Environmental Groups - click to veiw
Additional information for groups and organisations interested in joining GCCN under the Environment Pillar/Electoral college
The National Environmental Pillar is the validating body for groups who are joining GCCN as an environmental group.
To join GCCN under the Environment Pillar groups and organisations need to first complete the Community Groups Eligibility Form HERE. This form will then need to be ratified by the Environmental Pillar.
While groups and organisations are waiting for this ratification, they can be accepted as GCCN members under the Community/Voluntary Pillar.
The only groups who do not have to complete the Community Groups Eligibility Form are those on the list of automatically eligible groups. They can be found in the Criteria document HERE.
The pdf and word document version of the Community Groups Eligibility Form are also available and accepted, if you wish to make a request this way.
Full or Associate Membership - click to veiw
The GCCN membership is made up of Full Members and Associate Members.
In the event of a dispute regarding eligibility as a Full Member, the GCCN Secretariat will determine eligibility for Associate Membership.
What does it mean to be an Associate Member?
Associate Members are Member Groups that do not fulfil the conditions for full membership. For example, local branches of national organisations currently run in Galway City, who do not satisfy all the membership criteria (e.g. lack of a local Board of Directors).
Associate Members are not able to nominate GCCN representatives to sit on boards or committees or vote in GCCN elections.
Associate Membership allows groups to receive all GCCN communications, access consultations and training, and put forward motions not relating to GCCN membership.
Step 2
Register online by completing our Membership Form
Step 3
Your application is then assessed by the GCCN Secretariat. If there are any problems the GCCN Co-ordinator will contact you. You are then regarded as a full member of Galway City Community Network, the Public Participation Network in Galway City.
Step 4
The group/organisation contact names provided with the registration form will be included in the GCCN database.
Please note that GCCN requires two points of contact for each member group/organisation. In case of change of staff, please inform us to ensure continuous communication.
