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).