Public Participation Networks

A New Road to Local Participatory Democracy – real involvement in local government

Public Participation Networks are open for any not-for-profit or charity group to join. It’s completely free to do so and they provide many benefits and opportunities for your group and your community.
The PPNs were created to allow the voice of the community to be heard and have an affect on local decision making and policy. Your PPN provides the following benefits:

Benefits of the 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 polocies 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.

Find your local Public Participation Network

The following links are external and will bring you to the Homepage of the relevant PPN.

History of the PPNs

The report that instigated the establishment of the PPNs can be accessed here:

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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 they are 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 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.

If you are not on the list of automatically eligible members, you can fill out this eligibility form to seek inclusion in the PPN Environmental College.

For an editable version download the word file here: 2020_June_Community Groups Eligibility Form