Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 November 2020
47. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the way in which public participation networks and local community development committees will be supported in the next year in the context of Covid-19. [34171/20]
View answerMy Department will continue to provide direct funding to Public Participation Networks (PPNs) in 2021. This annual funding of €2.45m supports the ongoing development of the network of all 31 PPNs nationally, as well as the work of the national PPN Advisory Group. The Department will also continue to fund and advance a number of important initiatives to promote and support PPNs’ development including an online training programme, IT support, and community wellbeing consultations. A new PPN Handbook is currently being finalised and will be circulated to all PPNs shortly. Tenders are also being sought for a structural review of PPNs and the roll-out of a PPN Communications Strategy.
Following the Covid-19 outbreak, my Department has liaised with all PPNs in relation to their business continuity planning and has provided a range of practical advice on how best to continue their operations and benefit their member groups during this challenging period. PPNs were also one of the key stakeholders of the Community Call initiative and a review of their experiences has been collated by my Department.
My Department also has a general oversight and support role with regard to the LCDCs and will continue to fulfil this role in 2021. Supports provided include ongoing financial support to local authorities to support the community function in local authorities including the work of LCDCs. This funding amounts to €1.845 million a year.
Staff in the Community Policy Unit of my Department engage on an ongoing basis with the LCDC Chief Officers. This includes engagement with a network of regional groupings that meet on a regular basis. Community Policy Unit staff attend these meetings and update the Chief Officers on all aspects of the work of the Department that are relevant to the work of the LCDC.
Finally, the LCDC Review was published in 2019. My Department continues to progress all objectives and recommendations of the Review to ensure that LCDCs can be supported to address key priorities in the implementation of policy and/or the delivery of services at local level. In addition, the guidelines for the operation of LCDCs will be reviewed as part of the LCDC review commitments.
