The Galway County Public Participation Network (PPN) are hosting their plenary / gathering on Wednesday 12^th November 2025 at 7pm online.

This will be a FREE gathering and networking event for community and voluntary groups from around the County.

It will be an opportunity for volunteers to pick up useful information for their community and for their community group.   

Items to be discussed at this meeting are:

• Procurement Information – Shane Canney
• Local Enhancement Programme 2026 – Grant Information
• Community Insurance Information with Mark Lee
• SMART Villages from GRD Steve Dolan
• Questions & Answers

Please join us by using the zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81998168949?pwd=rLcANW9QYxLnIgu2qb6E1QkXs8ajAb.1

Meeting ID: 819 9816 8949

Passcode: 755481

For more information, please email ppn@galwaycoco.ie

Galway County Public Participation Network (PPN) Secretariat Committee and Staff are delighted to invite you to attend the Galway County PPN Plenary Event.

Please note the timings below and in attached poster. Please share widely. 

Exhibitors/refreshments/registration time is from 4pm to 5pm.

Presentations start at 5pm. There will be a break @6:30pm approximately for refreshments and event ends approximately 7:30pm.

Date: Tuesday 16th September 2025
Time: from 4pm until 7:30pm (Registration, & Exhibitor Tables from 4:00-5:00pm)
Venue: Raheen Woods Hotel, Athenry, H65 E443

Your Community Group/Organisation are registered members of Galway County Public Participation Network (PPN), and therefore it is strongly encouraged that your Group will be represented at the PPN Members’ Plenary events.

What to expect at the PPN Plenary:

• Refreshments, networking with other PPN member groups, loads of information for community groups.
• Funding and Financing opportunities for local groups.
• Information Tables from a wide variety of local and national organisations, service providers and Council staff.
• Guest Speakers: Wills & Estate Planning, funding programmes, opportunities for groups.
• PPN Updates from staff, Secretariat and Reps.
• Inputs from PPN member groups in the Community & Voluntary, Environmental and Social Inclusion pillars.
• Have Your Say: members Survey, Votes and Approvals.

All welcome!!

Your Feedback is important to us! Please scan the QR code below and complete the Survey!

CWI/EAPN Ireland Preparatory Workshops

The Social Inclusion Forum (SIF) is part of the Government’s structures to monitor and evaluate the

State’s strategy to address poverty and achieve social inclusion. The Roadmap for Social Inclusion

2020 – 2025 is the current strategy. The Social Inclusion Forum is held annually to provides an

opportunity for wider public consultation and discussion on poverty and social inclusion issues and the

implementation of the strategy, in particular for people experiencing poverty and social exclusion and

the organisations/groups that work with them. The Forum also provides an opportunity for engagement

between officials from Government Departments, community and voluntary organisations and people

experiencing poverty.

Social Inclusion Forum (SIF) 2025 will be held on Thursday 8^th May in Corke Park

Title for SIF 2025: Reflecting on the Past and Informing the Future of the Roadmap for Social Inclusion.

Each year the Department of Social Protection selects a number of thematic areas which will be the

focus of the workshops at the Forum each year. This year, the focus is on:

SIF 2025 will also provide an important opportunity to engage with the Government’s consultation of

developing a successor strategy to the Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020 – 2025.

CWI & EAPN Ireland Preparatory Workshops

Community Work Ireland (CWI) and the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) Ireland collaborate

annually to organise a series of workshops to support participation at the Social Inclusion Forum and

to and provide the opportunity for civil society, communities and stakeholders, and in particular people

affected by poverty and the organisations working with them, to discuss the issues. Each workshop will

provide an overview of the Roadmap for Social Inclusion and will focus on the thematic areas that are

the focus of SIF 2025. Feedback from the workshops will be presented at the Plenary session of SIF 2025.

Registration is now open for two online and two regional in-person Preparatory Workshops, hosted by

CWI and EAPN Ireland. each of the online workshops will cover two themes, and each in-person

workshop will cover all thematic areas.

EAPN Ireland and CWI would like to encourage people with direct experience of issues that emerge

from the workshops to participate in person at SIF 2025. A small budget will be available to support

the participation costs of a number of participants in the workshops from unfunded or under-funded

groups and unwaged individuals to attend SIF 2025. Further information will be available at the workshops.

PREPARATORY WORKSHOPS

  ]]> https://www.galwaycountyppn.ie/social-inclusion-forum-2025/feed/ 0 https://www.galwaycountyppn.ie/ppn-winter-plenary-event-registration-tue-19th-nov-2024-at-6pm/ https://www.galwaycountyppn.ie/ppn-winter-plenary-event-registration-tue-19th-nov-2024-at-6pm/#respond Mon, 11 Nov 2024 11:27:52 +0000 https://www.galwaycountyppn.ie/?p=14974 Read More »]]> Dear PPN Members,

Galway County Public Participation Network (PPN) Secretariat Committee and Staff are delighted to invite you to attend the Galway County PPN Winter Plenary Event.

Please note the updated timings below and in attached poster. Please share widely. 
Event now ends at 8:30pm instead of 9pm, and exhibitors/refreshments/registration time is from 6:00-6:30 now instead of 6:45pm. Presentations start at 6:30pm. There will be a short break in the middle. And event ends approximately 8:30pm.

REGISTER HERE   or use the below web address
https://forms.office.com/e/HEANySakWa

Date: Tuesday 19th November 2024
Time: from 6pm until 8:30pm (Registration, Refreshments & Exhibitor Tables from 6:00-6:30pm)
Venue: Connemara Coast Hotel, Na Forbacha, Galway, H91 KX27.

Your Community Group/Organisation are registered members of Galway County Public Participation Network (PPN), and therefore it is strongly encouraged that your Group will be represented at the PPN Members’ Plenary events.

Please check your PPN Membership Info Here (to help you complete the event registration form correctly):
https://www.galwaycountyppn.ie/members-directory/ 

What to expect at the PPN Plenary:

• Refreshments, networking with other PPN member groups, loads of information for community groups.
• Funding and Financing opportunities for local groups.
• Information Tables from a wide variety of local and national organisations, service providers and Council staff.
• Guest Speakers: Ombudsman (Ombudsman.ie), funding programmes, opportunities for groups.
• PPN Updates from staff, Secretariat and Reps.
• Inputs from PPN member groups in the  Community & Voluntary, Environmental and Social Inclusion pillars.
• Have Your Say: members Survey, Votes and Approvals.

Full Agenda and list of Exhibitors and Guest speakers coming soon. See poster attached.

“The Plenary (the Membership and the Member Groups):
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. Decisions made between Plenary meetings must be presented for ratification (that is, approval) to the following meeting.
Each independent full Member Group has one vote in the Plenary. Plenary meetings are an ideal forum for Member Groups to meet and network and to hear about matters of interest to them. It is also a really important meeting for the PPN as a whole as it sets the direction for the PPN”.
(PPN National Handbook: https://www.galwaycountyppn.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/PPN_Handbook.pdf )

We look forward to welcoming members of your PPN Group to the Plenary Event. If you have any queries please do not hesitate to get in contact with us at ppn@galwaycoco.ie .

Please inform all members of you Community Group that the PPN Summer Plenary Event is on Thursday 27^th June 2024, held online via Zoom.
It is essential that each PPN Member Group is represented at the Plenary.

Please see attached poster for the event. (share the poster widely). PPN Summer Plenary 2024 Poster 27.06.2024

Click this link to register online: https://forms.office.com/e/DsP0JXX61i

Or you can register in one of these ways:

• The poster contains the same link to register online for the event.
• Scan the QR Code on the poster with your smartphone camera and click the link to the online registration page.
• Email or Phone Duana (PPN acting Resource Worker): administrator@galwaycountyppn.ie | 087 233 0720

What you can expect at the PPN Summer Plenary 2024 – Information and Updates on:

Funding and Financing Opportunities for Groups:

• Leader, SICAP and Other Funding.
• Community Financing / Loans.

Guest Speakers:

• Galway Rural Development.
• Forum Connemara.
• Comhar na nOileán.
• Western Development Commission.

PPN Updates:

• PPN Secretariat, Representatives and Staff.
• Community, Environmental and Social Inclusion pillars of the PPN.
• Have Your Say: Members Votes and Approvals.

The Plenary is an important event for community groups in the Public Participation Network. Galway County PPN holds a Plenary twice a year, online and in-person.
Plenary meetings are an ideal forum for Member Groups to meet and network and to hear about matters of interest to them. It is also a really important meeting for the PPN as a whole as it sets the direction for the PPN. Each Member Group has one vote in the Plenary.

The meeting link and agenda will be emailed to those who register, closer to the event date.

We would greatly appreciate it if you share our Facebook post about the event on your Group’s or your own page: https://www.facebook.com/GalwayCountyPPN
On behalf of the PPN Secretariat Committee, we look forward to seeing you at the PPN Summer Plenary on Thursday 27th June at 7:00-8:30 p.m. Online via Zoom.

Le dea-ghuí (with kindest regards)

Duana Tuite
Acting Resource Worker
Public Participation Network (PPN) Galway County
Líonra Rannpháirtíochta Pobail (PPN) Chontae na Gaillimhe

Admin Email: administrator@galwaycountyppn.ie
Tel: 087 233 0720 | 091 378 817 | Email: dtuite@galwaycoco.ie  
www.galwaycountyppn.ie | facebook.com/GalwayCountyPPN  | X twitter.com/GalwayCoPPN

SCAN THIS QR CODE AND CLICK THE WEB LINK TO GET TO REGISTRATION FORM

Press Release – Launch of Cathaoirleach’s Awards 2024

Cathaoirleach Awards 2024_info sheet

Cathaoirleach Awards 2024_FINAL booklet

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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If you no longer wish to receive emails of this nature from the Department you can unsubscribe by responding to this email address with the word “unsubscribe” in the subject-line and we will endeavour to remove your email address from our database.

Galway County PPN have begun a series of presentations at Municipal District meetings across the County to address stakeholders, such as County Councillors, of the added value of the PPN in the democratic process of participative representation.

Here PPN Coordinator, Charlotte May and PPN Secretariat Member, Vincent Lyons stand in front of the Ballinasloe Municipal District Office holding an info booklet after their presentation to Councillors on 12 October 2022.

The Galway County PPN was formally established in 2014, replacing the Community Forum to become a statutory entity, in accordance with the Local Government Reform Act 2014. A PPN now operates in each local authority area and are the primary means through which community groups can shape the local policy. Each PPN elects representatives from its membership to sit on local government committees and boards to ensure that the voice of the community is heard in local decision-making processes. Any community group operating in County Galway can become a member, provided they meet the eligibility criteria (non-profit, non-party political, inclusive, etc.) and registration is free, quick and simple. See here.

Besides, its advocacy and representational functions, further roles of the PPN include running trainings and workshops for community groups to facilitate the operation of the organisation. In the past these have addressed topics such as: Fundraising, writing Funding applications, Bookkeeping, Governance, Volunteer management and many more.  The Galway County PPN also plays an integral part in facilitating the two-way flow of information between local authorities and community groups. The PPN team, spear-headed by Charlotte May and Mary Mullen issue regular communications via their popular Monthly Newsletter, a Weekly Digest and via their Website and Social Media Channels:

• galwaycountyppn.ie;
• com/GalwayCountyPPN;
• com/GalwayCoPPN)

Galway County PPN have over 1146 Member Groups, a Member’s Directory of which can be accessed here. For info on upcoming events and to find out what’s happening across the County, or to advertise your event, please check out our Events Calendar here.

For info please contact:

Dr Charlotte May

PPN Coordinator

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

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).