PPNs

Benefits of joining your PPN

– Information: Be kept informed of what is happening in your county. Be kept up to date with local funding opportunities, public consultations, events and more.

– Funding: In most counties LEADER and SICAP funding are allocated through the PPN.

– Influence local decision making: Members of your group can put themselves forward to sit on the secretariat, the LCDC, SPCs or Linkage Groups. From here there is huge potential through these systems to make a difference in local policy. This is the main function of the PPNs. You can represent the voice of your community at local decision making levels. Members who work within these committees have done brilliant work by bringing forward motions, ensuring positive amendments be included in certain policies and halting or changing policies that are not in the interests of their community.

– Communication: The PPNs are a network of voluntary groups. Through this network all of these groups can communicate. Member groups have held great events with the help of the PPN, from collaborative workshops and environmental showcases, to expert submissions to public consultations and the creation of public amenities such as orchards and tree trails.

History of the PPNs
The report that instigated the establishment of the PPNs can be accessed here: “Final Report of the Local Government/Local Development Alignment Steering Group”

Criteria for Membership of Electoral College of PPN
There are three electoral colleges within each PPN; Environmental, Social Inclusion and Community&Voluntary. If your group’s main focus is environmental protection or sustainability then you should be eligible to join the environmental college of the PPNs.

The Environmental Pillar is the validating body for membership to the Environmental Electoral Colleges of the City and County PPNs. Below is a list of criteria and areas of activity that are considered to qualify a local/regional group to be members of an Environmental Electoral College of a PPN, together with a list of all the national networks whose local/regional groups are automatically eligible.

How to Join the Environment Electoral College

When joining your PPN, tick the box indicating you wish to be included in the Environmental College. If your group is included in the list of automaticaly eligible groups you will be included straight away. If you are not on this list, but your group’s main focus is environmental (ie ecologocal) work, then please fill out the Community Group Eligibility Form to let the Environmental Pillar now of your work and make an informed decision. Send this form to your PPN along with your PPN membership application.

View/download Criteria and list of Automatically Eligible Groups.

View/download the Community Group Eligibility Form. (Click here for word document version.)