New local bodies to protect the well-being of local communities for generations to come

The Environmental Pillar welcomes the establishment of new Public Participation Networks (PPNs) The PPNs will focus their attention on the well-being of the local communities for this and future generations, and will nominate representatives to a range of County Council committees including the new Local Community Development Committees. They will be made up of representatives of the Environmental, Social Inclusion, and Community and Voluntary groups in each local authority area.  The first four Pilot PPNs are to be established in counties: Laois, Tipperary, Galway and South Dublin, with the roll out across the remaining 28 local authorities to follow
Michael Ewing, Coordinator of the Environmental Pillar welcomed this development, saying that:
“The Public Participation Networks will enable people to play a part in the the sustainable development of their communities, and to have a real role in guiding the use of financial resources to improve the well-being of their community for this and future generations”
Michael Ewing, together with Fr Sean Healy of Social Justice Ireland will be hosting public seminars around the country over the next three months to discuss how this might work in each of the local communities. Sean Healy chaired the Working Group on Citizen’s Engagement with Local Government that proposed these new structures. Michael Ewing was a member of the working group.
The first seminars are as follows:
26^th March 7.30pm Strand Hotel, Limerick
31^st March 7.00pm Longford Women’s Link, Longford
8^th April 7.30pm Tallaght
14^th April 7.30pm Treo Nua, Portlaoise
24^th April 7.30pm Galway
28^th April 7.30pm LIT, Thurles
12^th May 7.30pm Cork