Wednesday, 14^th December 2022

• Largest ever investment under Town and Village Renewal Scheme
• Former Banks, Ballrooms, Courthouses, Convents, Cinemas, Garda Stations and FCA Halls to be regenerated for community use
• Public Plazas, Town Parks, Playgrounds, Community Gardens and Dog Parks to be developed
• Local Shops and Businesses in 26 towns to have their shopfronts and building facades enhanced under Streetscapes Enhancement Initiative

The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has today (14^th December 2022) announced over €27 million in funding that will combat dereliction and breathe new life into rural towns and villages.

The announcement represents the largest ever investment under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and will see a range of landmark projects delivered across Rural Ireland.

The major package announced by Minister Humphreys today comprises 4 Strands:

• €17 million investment in 75 Town and Village Projects nationwide;
• €6 million in funding to purchase and re-develop vacant and derelict buildings and convert them into community facilities;
• €2.6 million to upgrade the shopfronts and building facades in 26 towns under the Streetscape Enhancement Measure;
• €1.56 million for planning and design works on a range of projects that are at an early stage of development.

Announcing the funding today, Minister Humphreys:

“I am delighted to announce a record €27 million in funding under my Department’s Town and Village Renewal Scheme.

“This is all about tackling the scourge of vacancy and dereliction in our rural towns and villages.

“It’s about taking old buildings and giving them a new lease of life.

“And it’s about rejuvenating the centre of our towns by developing public plazas, town parks, community gardens and sports facilities for the benefit of local families.

“This investment today will breathe new life into rural towns and villages across every single county.

“It’s the largest ever investment under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and demonstrates my passion and ambition for our rural communities.”

Among the 75 projects that received €17 million in funding under the standard Town and Village Renewal Scheme are:

• Robertstown, Co. Kildare: The development of a recreational facility which will include an eco-park, green playground, integrated green skate park, car park, dog park, playing pitches and an outdoor Amphitheatre at the centre – €500,000.
• Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim: To create a significant vibrant Town Centre community venue “The Market Yard” to host community and charity events including festivals, fun days as well as creating a Town Centre Tourist Kiosk and Café – €435,013.
• Causeway, Co. Kerry: Refurbishment of the former Shannon Ballroom (currently derelict) creating a facility within Causeway, which provides a focal point for the community that will be used as a meeting space and co-working hub – €250,000.
• Longford Town, Co. Longford: The development of a ‘Skate and Recreational Park’ within Longford Town along proposed future town cycleway and within immediate vicinity to the existing Royal Canal Greenway – €405,000.
• Duncannon, Co. Wexford: To restore and develop the historic Duncannon Fort – €500,000.
• Herbertstown, Co. Limerick: To renovate and re-purpose the former co-op building to develop it as a multi-use community space (indoor and outdoor). The investment will deliver a Community café, Men’s Shed, remote working hub, enterprise hub and community garden – €495,229.
• Arigna, Co. Roscommon: A three phase development to include a public sports park, a pedestrian plaza and ancillary works to put the heart back into this historical village of Arigna – €499,950.
• Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow: Public realm improvements scheme for the enhancement of the River Barrow. This includes a coffee dock, bench seating, covered canopy, green trellis overhangs, planter climber walls and decorative paving​- €500,000.
• Stepaside, Co. Dublin: The project proposes to enhance the public realm and streetscapes of Stepaside village, including the provision of a central green space – €225,000.
• Convoy, Co. Donegal: ​The development of the ‘Railway Park’ along the former and now disused railway line in Convoy providing a much needed inclusive green space and recreational amenity in the centre of the village – €435,204.
• Moate, Co. Westmeath: Bringing the old Fire Station in the town centre, which has laid vacant for many years, back into use as a multi-purpose space for community use by the Moate Action Group – €112,500.
• Ballina, Co. Tipperary: Provision of an access promenade and viewing area across the river Shannon, to drive tourist and local footfall activity – €360,000.

Building Acquisition Measure (BAM)

Minister Humphreys also today announced 29 projects that will benefit from funding under the Building Acquisition Measure (BAM) of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.

Under the initiative, local authorities were asked by the department to engage with the local community to identify suitable vacant or derelict properties that could be taken into public ownership and converted for community use.

Among the 29 projects to be funded under the €6 million Building Acquisition Measure are:

• Rathkeale, Co. Limerick: Convert the former Bank of Ireland Building into an e-Hub and multi-purpose community facility.
• Mitchelstown, Co. Cork: Convert of the FCA Hall on the grounds of the old Military Barracks into a multi-purpose sports and community venue.
• Moyvane, Co. Kerry: Convert a former garda station into a multi-purpose hub.
• Kilrush, Co, Clare: Purchase the former Mars Cinema and Ballroom and convert it into an educational training facility.
• Monasterevin, Co. Kildare: Convert a former Bank of Ireland building for use as a co-working enterprise hub.
• New Ross, Co. Wexford: Convert the former courthouse as a multi-use community building.
• Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary: Purchase of a garden centre for tourism accommodation, together with cultural, recreational, commercial and retail uses.
• Monaghan Town, Co. Monaghan: Purchase of the Convent School building for use as a social enterprise hub.

Minister Humphreys continued:

“We are all familiar with that old building in the community that has acted as an eyesore for far too long.

“This particular initiative, the Building Acquisition Measure, is about providing our local authorities with the necessary resources to tackle the scourge of vacancy and dereliction.

“This funding will see former garda stations, convents, old cinemas and banks taken into public ownership and converted for the good of the local community.

“This scheme goes to the heart of our rural development policy ‘Our Rural Future’ – breathing new life into towns and villages and making them better places to live, work and raise a family.”

Streetscape Enhancement Initiative

Minister Humphreys has also today given the green light for works to take place in 26 towns under the Streetscape Enhancement Initiative.

This scheme will see funding of up to €100,000 provided to one town per local authority.

Under the initiative, retailers and property owners will be provided with grants that they can use to improve the facades of their buildings, carry out artwork or install features such as street furniture or canopies.

The Towns being supported under the Streetscape Enhancement Initiative are:

Project Development Measure

Minister Humphreys also announced a further €1.56 million to fund 33 projects that are pre-development stage. This funding will support feasibility, planning and design works.

Examples of these projects include:

• Ballyroan, Co. Laois: Feasibility study to determine the potential future uses of the vacant/derelict former old boys school in Ballyroan village – €50,000.
• Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim: Feasibility study and preliminary design and planning for the courthouse building in Manorhamilton, with a view to bringing back into use as a community facility – €50,000.
• Moneygall, Co. Offaly: Architect led design team to deliver a detailed design proposal and planning permission for refurbishment of a derelict property into a multi-purpose community space/hub – €50,000.
• Strandhill, Co. Sligo: Design team to develop masterplan for Dolly’s Cottage, a tourist attraction, including site survey, conservation architect, structural engineer, planning design – €49,999.50.
• Tramore, Co. Waterford: Feasibility study for the development plan of a multi-cultural centre, including review of properties and potential locations for the centre, funding model to acquire the building, and scope initial development works required – €49,500.
• Carnew, Co Wicklow: To do design, cost and planning for the refurbishment of the old Bank of Ireland building (BAM purchase) to become a remote working hub – €49,999.50.

The Minister concluded:

“Today I am giving the green light for works to commence in the 26 towns selected under the Streetscapes Enhancement Initiative.

“From Bagenalstown to Ballinlough, this initiative will provide retailers and property owners with grants that they can use to improve the facades of their buildings, carry out artwork or install features such as street furniture or canopies.

“This is a new initiative that I introduced as part of Our Rural Future. The response has been hugely positive to date and I look forward to seeing works commence in these 26 towns.

“Finally I am delighted to sanction €1.56 million for pre-development work on 33 projects to help with the costs of developing these applications so that they are shovel ready for future funding calls.”

A full list of the projects supported under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme is available here

ENDS

Contact:

The Department of Rural and Community Development Press Office

01-773 6843 / 087-1734633

Press.office@drcd.gov.ie

You can read the submission here: Galway County PPN SUBMISSION on Litter Management Plan

Section 10 of the Litter pollution Acts 1997 requires that a Local Authority must prepare and adopt a Litter Management Plan in respect of its functional area. As this is a litter management plan for all sections of Galway County Council the process for drafting the Litter Management Plan includes consultation with relevant Local Authority sections and staff and to review and/or include submissions.

Galway County Council has responsibilities in relation to the prevention of litter as a local authority, but they are also a business and members of the public and as such must be aware of litter management in their everyday operations.

 The Responsibilities of the Local Authority include:

• To take all practical measures to allow for the prevention, control and correct disposal of litter,
• Take steps to promote awareness of litter pollution and its effect on the environment,
• Encourage participation from the public and businesses of the county in preventing and overcoming litter pollution,
• To provide access to appropriate facilities/receptacles and waste bins for its citizens and to arrange for regular emptying and cleaning,
• Enforce the law and apply the necessary penalties and legal sanctions.

Responsibilities of businesses include:

• To keep the immediate area and up to 100m of the premises litter free,
• To keep any land visible from a public place free from litter,
• Persons owning, operating or in charge of mobile outlets and those who organise major events have additional responsibilities,
• To ensure there is no placement of unauthorised advertisements or public notices in public places,
• Not to place advertising flyers on cars,
• To ensure that transporting material does not cause litter and that the material is sufficiently secured to not cause litter.

Responsibilities of the public include:

• Any owner or occupier of property which can be seen from a public place is obliged to keep the property free of litter
• Not to create litter in a public place or a place visible from a public road.
• The public must ensure that waste material is disposed of in a waste receptacle or bin, or in an authorised waste facility.
• Dog owners shall be responsible for the removal of dog faeces from a public place and ensure it is disposed of properly.
• The public must ensure that they only give household waste including recyclable materials to collectors with the necessary authorisations to collect such waste

The Environment Section begun the process of preparing the next Litter Management Plan 2023-2025 in October 2022 and each invited submissions in relation to litter management practices and issues.

Thursday 8th December 2022

• Largest ever capital investment in Community Centres

• Grants of up to €300,000 provided

• Extensions to Existing Centres, Energy Efficiency Upgrades and Improved Access for People with Disabilities amongst works supported

• Community Centres, Parish Halls, Scouts Clubs, Youth Hubs, Family Resource Centres & Sports Complexes across country set to benefit

The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, along with the Tánaiste Leo Varadkar TD, have today announced funding of over €33 million for the upgrade and development of 278 Community Centres nationwide.

The announcement under the new Community Centre Investment Fund represents the largest ever capital investment in upgrading Community Centres and will see grants of between €25,000 to €300,000 provided to successful projects.

The funding will be used to upgrade, renovate and refurbish Community Centres, Parish Halls, Scouts Clubs, Youth Hubs, Family Resources Centres and Sports Complexes across the country.

Communities in every single county in Ireland will benefit as part of the investment.

Examples of some of the types of work being supported include:

• Extensions to existing community centres
• The provision of meeting rooms, offices, counselling rooms and family rooms
• Energy Retrofitting/upgrades to Heating Systems
• Works to develop community centres as social hubs through the development of community cinemas, youth hubs and community libraries
• Works to upgrade kitchen facilities to enhance the delivery of Meals on Wheels
• Upgrades to lighting systems and stage areas
• Fire Safety Upgrades
• Essentials maintenance works, repairs to roof, re-wiring,etc
• Works to upgrade toilet facilities
• Works to improve disability access
• Replacement of windows and doors
• Installation of electric vehicle charging points

Minister Humphreys and the Tánaiste made the announcement at Hartstown Sports and Leisure Centre in Dublin 15 today.

This community facility was approved funding of €300,000 for a major upgrade.

Speaking in Hartstown today, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said:

“This Government and the last showed time and again that we’re committed to community development. 

“I’m delighted to see this ground-breaking investment in community centres. It will bring real improvements to the heart of communities across Ireland.

“In time, I think it will become as significant as the Sport Capital Programme which has brought local sporting facilities up a level that would have been unimaginable 20 years ago. 

“The benefits will be felt in Community Centres, Parish and Scouts Halls, Clubhouses, Men’s Sheds and Youth Facilities.

“Every county in Ireland will receive funding, for projects like new meeting rooms, refurbished and warmer buildings, new social hubs, and improved disability access.”

Announcing the overall investment, Minister Humphreys said:

“The local community centre is at the heart of our towns, villages and parishes right across the country.

“Our Community Centres come in many different shapes and sizes and provide a wide and diverse range of services and activities.

“The Community Centre is where the children go to play sport; it’s where meals are provided for our senior citizens; it’s where the local dramatic society perform; it’s where the ICA, our Men’s Sheds, Youth Clubs and other local organisation come together for their meetings and events.

“Most importantly in the month of December – the Community Centre is often the place that Santa will come to visit to meet the local children!

“It was a priority for me as Minister for Rural and Community Development to put this new funding stream in place and I am delighted to announce the successful projects today.”

Some of the successful applicants announced today include;

• Co. Offaly: Killeigh Community Centre – €300,000

• The delivery of a 200 metre recreation hall that will hold up to 300 people and operate as a social hub. The project will also see the provision of a canteen, toilets and a meeting room that will be used for public information sessions.

• Co. Tipperary: Burncourt Community Hall – €209,832.20

• The ‘Burncourt Community Hall Regeneration’ project will see the delivery of a new outdoor recreation, meeting and entertainment space, which will provide for large outdoor gatherings for people of all age groups.

• Co Carlow:  St Catherine’s Community Services Centre – €300,000

• This Centre in Carlow provides a range of services to families, older people and vulnerable groups. The funding will be used to extend the facility to provide for a new family room and consultation rooms.

• Co. Limerick: Murroe Wood Park sports facility – €206,290.71

• Provision of a community café, community gym, remote working space, changing facilities and purchase of gym equipment.

• . Clare: Newmarket-on-Fergus Community Centre – €300,000

• This funding will be used to renovate and repair the main hall, toilets and changing facilities, as well the installation of solar panels and LED lighting.

• Co. Cork: My Place Community Centre, Midleton – €300,000

• A first-floor extension that will provide two multi-purpose large rooms, another counselling room, toilets and a small coffee-break room.

• Co. Donegal: Bundoran Community Centre – €281,653.08

• A significant expansion of this facility that will deliver a large activity space that will facilitate up to 80 members of a youth group, 2 counselling rooms, a sensory room, office space and a disabled toilet.

• Co. Dublin: Hartstown Sports and Leisure Centre – €300,000

• Referred to as the ‘Hartstown Community Centre Revival’.  The project involves; rewiring of the building, installation of disabled toilets, repair of stage and fire door replacements.

• Co. Galway: Kinvara Community Centre – €286,803.29

• Major energy refit of the community centre, to include floor and wall insulation, an air to water heat pump, as well as new fire doors, energy lighting and solar panels

• Co. Cavan: Castlerahan Community Centre – €300,000

• A major expansion of this community facility to include remote working facilities, meeting rooms and multi-function rooms for concerts and shows.

• Co. Kilkenny: Urlingford Town Team – €300,000

• Major refurbishment of the large former dance hall in Urlingford, including the replacement of the asbestos roof and externally insulating the reinforced concrete walls.

• Co. Longford: Drumlish Community Association – €259,909

• To create three state of the art fully accessible activity/meeting rooms for a variety of activities

• Co. Waterford: Carbally Community Development – €300,000

• To upgrade the downstairs space into a new activity hall as well as the provision of disability access.

• Co. Wexford: Ferns Diocesan Youth Service – €82,190

• Upgrade of centre to provide a social hub for young people

The full list of successful projects being announced today is available here.

The new Community Centre Investment Fund forms part of a range of measures being undertaken by the Department of Rural and Community Development to support the community and voluntary sector, and to empower thriving, sustainable communities across Ireland.

ENDS

Contact:

The Department of Rural and Community Development Press Office

01-773 6843 / 087-1734633

Press.office@drcd.gov.ie

Notes to editors:

Funding will be available under 3 Categories, with grants up to €300,000 available:

• Category 1: Small scale projects/improvements to facilities up to €25,000

• Category 2: Larger scale projects €25,001 to €100,000
• Category 3: Major projects €100,001 to €300,000

Funding is available for capital works such as: –

• works to improve communal facilities such as kitchen and toilet facilities
• energy retrofitting, new windows / doors / heating systems
• upgrades to lighting systems and stage areas
• works to address safety concerns, including as a result of fire safety audits
• works to improve disability access
• improvements to assist in providing additional or better services to the community such as meals for the elderly and youth facilities
• works to develop Community Centres as Social Hubs through the development of Community Cinemas, Youth Hubs and Community Libraries
• essential maintenance works, repairs to roof, and so on

The fund closed to applications on the 14th of July. Details of successful Category 1 projects were announce on the 12^th October by Minister Humphrey’s and details of successful projects can be found here.

Our Rural Future

Our Rural Future is the whole-of-government policy for rural Ireland for the period 2021-2025. It represents a new milestone in the approach to rural development policy for Ireland and adopts a more strategic, ambitious and holistic approach to investing in and maximising opportunities for rural areas.

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• New Community Support Fund to assist thousands of community groups across the country

• Support available for Parish Halls, Community Centres, Local Development Associations, Social Clubs, ICA Groups, Senior Citizen Groups, Men’s Sheds, Women’s Sheds and more

• Small grants to help groups with running costs and rising energy bills

• Applications from groups supporting rural pursuits and activities welcome

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, and Minister of State, Joe O’Brien TD, have today announced a new €10 million fund to support thousands of local community & voluntary groups with their energy bills.

The Community Support Fund will provide small grants to a wide and diverse range of local community groups to assist with their running costs.

Funding will be available to support Parish Halls, Community Centres, Local Development Associations, Social Clubs, ICA Groups, Senior Citizen Groups, Men’s Sheds, Women’s Sheds and much more.

The new scheme has been devised to support groups with their energy costs who may not have been deemed eligible under previous Government schemes.

These include groups that operate from parish halls and who need support with running costs such as energy or insurance bills.

Groups can also use the funding to carry out small upgrade works and to purchase equipment to support their activities such as laptops and printers, lawnmowers, training equipment, etc.

Announcing the funding today, Minister Humphreys said:

“Like everybody else, community groups are not immune from rising prices. This new scheme is about supporting these groups with their costs whether it’s the electricity bill, insurance costs or other overheads.

“As Minister for Rural and Community Development, I fully appreciate the fantastic work carried out by volunteers in communities across the country whether it’s the local Parish Hall Committee, the Development Association or the local Senior Citizens Group.

“These local committees work hard to make sure they can keep the lights on and run fantastic local services and events for young and old to enjoy.

“In making this €10m Fund available today, I want to support these groups to make sure they can continue doing this great work on the ground in communities across the country. These will be small grants ranging from a few hundred euro to a few thousand euro but I know they will make a big difference to the groups involved.

“The Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) will administer this fund on behalf of my Department at local level and I would encourage community groups interested in applying to contact their LCDC over the coming days at the contact numbers provided.”

Also announcing the funding today, Minister O’Brien said:

“In recognition of rising energy costs the Government announced a package of funding supports to business, cultural, health, sporting and C&V organisations in September. We know that many small organisations/groups particularly those who serve in disadvantaged areas may not be able to access these funds.

“These grants will help thousands of community organisations, clubs, men’s and women’s sheds, youth centres and parish halls, to continue to provide their valuable services to the people in their areas.”

The once-off fund will be allocated under the Department’s Community Enhancement Programme and will be administered locally by the Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs).

This funding builds on the Minster’s earlier announcement of the €10million Community and Voluntary Energy Support Scheme (CVESS).

The CVESS will provide once-off support to incorporated organisations and registered charities within the Community and Voluntary sector which fall outside the parameters of other energy support schemes being delivered by Government such as the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS).

Further details can be found here.

This initiative forms part of a range of measures being undertaken by the department to support the community and voluntary sector, and to empower thriving, sustainable communities across Ireland.

It also ties into the Reduce Your Use energy efficiency campaign where the government are asking people, where safe and possible to do so, to turn their thermostat down and consider when they use larger appliances.

Groups should contact their LCDC for further details of the fund.

Contacts details for all LCDCs are as follows:

ENDS

• NETWORK MIX UP – We bought together women from all across Galway; urban, rural, migrants, settled, traveller, young and not so young, mixed abilities, employed and under employed, varied sexual orientation, different ethnicities, religious beliefs, and language.
• MEET, RELATE, CONNECT – participants were invited to broaden their horizons and engage with each other. In an ever changing world, we envisage a community where we can create lasting connections. So we enjoyed getting to know women we might not normally meet.
• SHARE, LEARN, SMILE –  practitioners donated their expertise to offer classes including yoga, dance and self-defence. There was a Human Library and speakers from a broad range of backgrounds who shared their stories in an intimate setting. 
•  SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER – Free tickets were offered to women from marginalised communities. The money raised from ticket sales covered catering, transport and associated costs for the day and opened the door for another women to attend.

This event was supported by SCCUL Sanctuary, SETU YOGA, AKIDWA, Galway City Partnership, and many more.

Picture below is a group of smiling women holding a sign reading whos she galway inside the venue of the event

The shedule of events can be seen below:

Schedule of Events for the day is displayed in a table

Minister for Community Development and Charities, Joe O’Brien TD, has today, (Wednesday October 19^th), officially launched an agreed set of Values and Principles for collaboration and partnership with the Community and Voluntary Sector.

The launch took place at Outhouse Resource Centre, Capel St in Dublin, a community and voluntary organisation supporting the LGBT+ Community, their friends, families and allies.

The publication of these Values and Principles copper-fastens the renewed relationship and partnership between Government and the Community and Voluntary sector, which has been central in addressing the crises of recent times.

Developed by the sector, in partnership with Government, the aim is to support values such as social justice, and active participation along with principles like respect, collaboration and value for money.

The Values and Principles will be used by central and local government, as well as state bodies, as a basis for their interactions with the community and voluntary sector in pursuit of the best outcomes for all communities.

Minister O’Brien said:

“I am really pleased to launch these shared Values and Principles today. They will form the bedrock of engagement and collaboration going forward,

“I am very proud of our record in working with the community and voluntary sector, but I know we can always go further. Our mutual objective to support and empower communities and the individuals within those communities has allowed us to come to a shared understanding and to articulate the values and principles that bind and drive both the sector and state.

“These Values and Principles will support consultation, inclusion and participation of communities, particularly disadvantaged communities, in public policy and decision-making at all levels and forms a foundation for collective approaches to local and national issues.

“The success of this initiative will ultimately be in the realisation and embedding of these Values and Principles, and I look forward to championing them.”

The values and principles were warmly welcomed by all government departments and will now be championed by the Department of Rural and Community Development.

The document is now available here and the Department of Rural and Community Development will issue information to each department and local authority in the coming weeks.

This initiative forms part of a range of measures being undertaken by the Department to support the community and voluntary sector, and to empower thriving, sustainable communities across Ireland.

ENDS

Contact:

The Department of Rural and Community Development Press Office

01-773 6843 / 087-1734633

Press.office@drcd.gov.ie

Notes for editors:

Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities

Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities: the 5-year strategy to support the community and voluntary sector in Ireland sets out a long-term vision for our communities in Ireland. It sets a general direction of travel for government policy in relation to the community development, local development and the community and voluntary sectors for the coming decade.

One of the commitments in the five-year strategy is the adoption of an agreed set of values and principles for collaboration and partnership working at national and local level.

Values:

• Social Justice,
• Empowering Communities, Sustainable Development,
• Active Participation,
• Human Rights, Equality and Anti- Discrimination,
• Social Inclusion

Principles:

• Respect
• Subsidiarity
• Harmonisation
• Value for Money
• Implementation
• Collaboration

The members of the Galway County PPN were asked to attend the meeting in the Claregalway Hotel and vote on a change to the PPN Constitution based on a Circular issued by the Department for Rural and Community Development. The Amendment addressed the voting procedure at PPN Plenaries where there is a lack of a Quorum in attendance. The Amendment was passed and will be included in the Galway County PPN Constitution.

Next, the Members were asked to adopt the PPN Workplan and Budget and ratify PPN Representatives nominated by PPN member groups to sit on the LCDC and Climate Change and Biodiversity SPC. The operational documents were approved and the 9 representatives were ratified by the members present. After a short break, the Plenary heard presentations about an energy efficiency training course that the PPN will run with Clar Éifeachteacht Fuinnimh, from AMACH, Community Finance Ireland and about LocalHub a new app to connect communities.

You can read the Plenary report here: Galway Co PPN Plenary 2022 Report 

and view the Plenary Presentation HERE.

Pictures taken by Jarlath Canney at the Plenary event below:

‘Make Way Day’ is a national campaign run by the Disability Federation of Ireland who collaborate across Ireland and the voluntary and local government sectors. The campaign brings the disability and wider community together to consider the needs of people with disabilities in the public spaces we all share.

Everyone was encouraged to get involved, especially as DFI have discovered that most barriers occur due to thoughtlessness.

The Day is a friendly reminder that:

– Cars parked on footpaths…

– Bicycles illegally parked…

– Bins left on footpaths…

….All block the way and create barriers for people.

Make Way Day 2022 in Loughrea, Co. Galway. The Galway Disability Forum, were joined by Members of An Garda Síochána who are responsible for enforcing the rules around parking permits, along with Traffic Wardens. Pictured from left to right: Inspector Brian Boland, Charlotte May- Galway County PPN, Peter Gohery and Una Ní Threasaigh from the Galway Disability Forum and Sergeant Joe Dunleavy

So, on Friday 30th September, obstacles that block the way and complicate the lives of people with disabilities 365 days of the year were highlighted in Loughrea and Portumna.

This year, the Galway Disability Forum chose to highlight  the misuse of disabled parking spaces as its focus for the campaign. This was based on a survey carried out by Galway County Council to find out what the priorities were regarding the removal of physical barriers to participation in community life.  It emerged that misuse of disabled parking spaces is a major issue and the Council has since been collaborating with the Galway Disability Forum, which is part of Galway County PPN, to highlight how this impacts on people with disabilities on a daily basis. This campaign was accompanied by a series of radio ads on Galway Bay FM featuring the voices of people with disabilities to raise awareness in the lead up to Make Way Day.

Make Way Day 2022 in Portumna. The Galway Disability Forum were joined by Councillors Ivan Canning and Jimmy McClearn and by Lisa Fewick from DFI, as well as a group of activists from St Dympna’s Day Service in Portumna.

The PPN Workers decided to make a join submission on behalf of all PPN Workers nationally.
Please find the submission here: PPN Workers Mazars Submission.

Background info:

Public Participation Networks (PPNs) were set up on foot of the Report of the Working Group on Citizen Engagement with Local Government (2014). Their main purpose is to provide representation for the community sector in Local Authority policymaking structures, giving local volunteers a greater say in local government decisions which affect their own communities.

Monday 12^th September 2022

Galway County Public Participation Network meets Minister for Community Development and Charities, Joe O’Brien TD, to discuss community needs.

• Galway County PPN met with Minister Joe O’Brien TD during his 2-day visit to Galway City and County
• PPN Secretariat Vincent Lyons highlighted some current shortcomings in the representation of communities on local committees
• PPN Representatives gave an overview of their activities

On Tuesday 6^th September a delegation of the Galway County PPN met with Minister for Community Development and Charities Joe O’Brien TD, in the Galway County Council Chambers. The meeting, which was part of the Minister’s trip to visit Galway based community initiatives, emphasised the extensive community work taking place across the City and County.

Vincent Lyons, Galway County PPN Secretariat member welcomed the Minister and reported that the Galway County PPN has 1132 Member Groups making it the 3^rd largest PPN in the country, constituting 11.25% of the current, national PPN membership (18,060). Mr Lyons explained that the larger PPNs required funding to match the additional costs associated with a larger membership. My Lyons further, highlighted the existing shortfalls in community representation on local policy committees. In many local authority areas, for example, the JPC’s needed to improve their reporting. Mr Lyons then presented some figures of the representation of community representatives on the Strategic Policy Committees on a national level and explained that the number of Sectoral representatives varied greatly between local Authorities.

Councillor Gabe Cronnelly who is a member of the Galway Disability Forum, a Linkage Group of the Galway County PPN described some of the events and initiatives of the Forum to improve accessibility for People with Disabilities. These activities include awareness campaigns, lobbying, and supporting the implementation of an Accessibility and Participation project in partnership with Galway County Council under the Disability Participation and Awareness Fund.

Secretariat Members Martina Finn and Patrick McHugh emphasized the work of the Galway County PPN in the areas of sustainable living and environmental conservation. More attention and further resources are urgently required as the UN has urged countries around the World to declare a State of Climate Emergency. Ireland has to respond to this call at national and local level.

At the end of the meeting the delegation handed the Minister a new resource recently published: ‘A Quick Guide to your Local PPN’. The Minister welcomed this publication as it was important to increase the understanding around the PPNs. The Minister then explained that the Department were working on improving the functioning PPNs and had recently conducted a Structural Review of PPNs which will be accompanied by further consultation processes on how to improve this pivotal, democratic tool. The Minster encouraged the delegation to engage in this process to ensure a successful change process.

A delegation of Galway County PPN Representatives meet with Minister Joe O’Brien TD.

Back row (left to right): Mary McGann (Galway Co PPN Council Liaison Officer), Councillor Gabe Cronnelly, Charlotte May (Galway Co PPN Coordinator), Vincent Lyons (Galway Co PPN Secretariat Members), Martina Finn (Galway Co PPN Secretariat Members), Eileen Ruane (Director of Services);

Front row (left to right): Mary Mullen (Galway Co PPN Administrator), Cathaoirleach Michael ‘Moegie’ Maher, Minister Joe O’Brien.

ENDS

Contact:

Charlotte May and Mary Mullen,

Galway County Public Participation Network

Economic, Rural & Community Development Unit | Galway County Council

Áras an Chontae | Prospect Hill | Galway | H91 H6KX

Tel: 087 94 55 722

www.galwaycountyppn.ie | facebook.com/GalwayCountyPPN  | twitter.com/GalwayCoPPN

Notes to editors:

A Public Participation Network (PPN) is a network that allows local authorities to connect with community groups around the country.

The PPN is the ‘go to’ for all local authorities who wish to benefit from community and voluntary expertise in their area.

 Community groups register to join the PPN in their local authority area.

PPNs give citizens a greater say in local government decisions which affect their own communities.

Our democracy is made stronger, by allowing diverse views and interests to be considered as part of the decision making process of local government.

The main role of the PPN is to ‘enable the PPN member groups to input into and have their voices heard within the formal decision-making structures of the local authority’.

•  Department of Rural and Community Development, Public Participation Networks Handbook, (2020).