The Public Participation Networks (PPNs) 2018 Annual Report was launched on Wednesday, 25th September by Mr Seán Canney TD, the Minister of State for Community Development, Natural Resources and Digital Development.
As stated in the Department of Rural and Community Development’s Press Release available at the link below, Minister Canney said that this third annual report gives a good indication of the growth of PPNs in recent years, 16% more than in 2017. The report also illustrates the diverse range of activities, consultations, engagements and commitments the PPNs undertook on behalf of their members in 2018.
“Engagement and consultation are core principles of citizen participation in local government and are key components of the work undertaken by PPNs.”
The Minister went on to say:
“The fact that there are 14,846 member organisations is indicative of a real success story. With some 920 representatives across the country on boards and committees of local authorities, not only is the voice of the local community being heard but that voice is actually influencing decisions on behalf of citizens.”
Outside their normal engagement, PPNs are acting in partnership with local authorities and collaborated on a host of events and initiatives in 2018. These include; age-friendly initiatives, sports partnerships, community awards, disability awareness, men’s sheds, digital strategies and support of women’s groups. PPNs are also actively engaged in raising the awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and are influencing local policy aimed at delivering on these goals.
Further details and the report are available at the links below.