Public Participation Networks (PPNs) were established throughout Ireland under the Local Government Reform Act 2014. The main reason the PPNs were set up is to enable community groups to be represented and to feed into local government decision-making in a way that is fair, clear and respectful.
These Colleges are a collection of Member Groups that have the same interest. The Colleges nominate and elect people from within their Member Groups to represent them on some of the Boards and Committees set up by the Local Authorities and other bodies. This is key to the participation part of the Public Participation Networks. This is how the voices of Member Groups are included and heard when it comes to the policy decision-making process.
The PPN is independent and “apolitical”. That means it is not under any outside influence and is not part of any political group. Although many PPNs are physically situated within the Local Authority building in their area, and some of the staff have been employed directly by that Local Authority, the work of the PPN must not be influenced by the Local Authority. The PPNs are overseen by a National Advisory Group chaired by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.
The Member Groups must be involved in all operational and local policy decisions of the PPN. The interests of the Member Groups are the main interests of the PPN, which means they set the agenda and influence the work programme of the PPN.
The Plenary (all the member organisations together) is the key decision maker of the PPN on operational issues and local policy focus for the PPN, meeting at least twice a year. Their role is to direct the operation of the PPN, setting overall PPN policy and processes, for example agreeing the annual Workplan, the Budget and so on.
All members of the PPN are welcome to attend the Plenary, with each member organisation having one vote when required. The Plenary facilitates an update on PPN activity, dialogue on PPN strategy and the highlighting of local issues.
The Secretariat is the administrative body of the PPN. It carries out the decisions of the Plenary and makes sure the day-to-day work of the PPN gets done. The membership of the Secretariat should be as broad as possible to reflect the range of Member Groups that make up the PPN.
The Secretariat operates similar to a board and reports to the Plenary of the PPN. The Secretariat is made up of 10+ volunteers. Membership is comprised of community representatives from each Municipal District, each of the three colleges (Environment, Social Inclusion and Community) and representatives of the thematic networks (Older persons, Youth, Disability, Community Safety, Arts, Heritage and Tidy Towns). The Secretariat meets every 6 weeks and is responsible for the day to day running of the PPN. They manage the staff, budget and operations. This includes developing, monitoring and implementing the Monaghan PPN annual work plan.
| Name | Group | Pillar |
|---|---|---|
|
Packie Kelly |
Teach na Daoine FRC |
Social Inclusion |
|
Fergal McMahon |
Solas Drop In Centre |
Social Inclusion |
|
P J Harte |
Monaghan Older Persons Forum |
Older People |
|
Kevin Gartlan |
Carrickmacross Local Development Group |
Community |
|
Vacant |
|
Monaghan MD |
|
Michael O’Hare |
Monaghan Community Allotments |
Community |
|
Kieran McMahon |
Carrick Rovers AFC |
Carrickmacross/Castleblayney MD |
|
Tom Freeman |
Magheracloone Development Association |
Tidy Towns |
|
Ursula McKenna |
Women’s Collective Monaghan |
Women |
|
Martin McDonald |
Teach na Daoine FRC |
Youth |
|
Vacant |
|
Ballybay/ Clones MD |
|
Vacant |
|
Environment |
The PPN staff are made up of a full time Resource Worker Carmel Murphy and Support Worker Kim Greenan. Funding for the Resource and Support Worker and the PPN day to day expenses and programmes comes from the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaelteacht and Monaghan County Council.
The PPN offices are based in Monaghan County Council’s offices in MTEK 2. The Resource Worker under the direction of the Secretariat develops and co-ordinates the activity of the PPN.
You can contact the PPN by phoning 047 30550 or emailing ppn@monaghancoco.ie
Resource Worker
Support Worker