The sixth national Public Participation Networks (PPNs) conference was held in Limerick recently on the 10th anniversary of their establishment.
Vincent Lyons, Galway County PPN, said, “There’s no doubt about it, we’ve come an awful long way in the ten years. I think as a result of the PPNs, groups are better informed and they can use funding opportunities better because there’s more widespread delivery of information.”

In the future, he wanted to see PPN representatives have a more meaningful role on strategic policy committees of local authorities.

Almost 21,000 community groups are members of PPNs across the country and membership is open to all volunteer-led and not-for-profit groups.

• Attendees from Co. Leitrim at the Public Participation Network conference held in Limerick in October (l-to-r): Mary McGirl, Leitrim PPN; Bernie Donoghue, Leitrim Development Company (LDC); Mary Quinn, Leitrim County Council (LCC); Paddy Beirne, LDC; Cllr Paddy O’Rourke, chair, LCC; Mary McKeon and Patrick Mc Greevy, both from Leitrim PPN; Suzanne Duffy and Elaine McKeon, both from LCC; and Michael Bruen, LDC.

Addressing 200 attendees via a pre-recorded video message, Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development, Charities and Integration, Joe O’Brien, sent a message of support and encouragement to all. He also spoke about increased funding for PPNs he secured in Budget 2025:

“From January each PPN will receive just over €100,000 in core funding from my Department, more than double the original allocation of €50,000 each in 2015 and an increase of almost 20% on 2024.”

Opening the conference, Bairbre NicAongusa, Assistant Secretary General at the Department of Rural and Community Development, spoke about the enormous contribution PPNs have made.

She said, “Collaboration is a core characteristic of PPNs, a value that is particularly needed in a time when bad actors would divide communities and stifle discussion. PPNs remind us that a healthy democracy thrives on robust debate and strong opinions aired in good faith with the honest intention of making things better for all.”

• Seamus O’Connor from Limerick City and County Council speaking at the 10th anniversary gathering of Public Participation Networks. Photo – Keith Wiseman.

The two-day conference was hosted by Limerick PPN, in conjunction with Limerick County Council, the Department of Rural and Community Development and the National PPN Advisory Group.

It was attended by a wide range of PPN stakeholders, including volunteer representatives from PPNs across the country, local authority officials, and elected representatives.

Aileen Eglington, Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown PPN, feels privileged to have been involved as the PPN developed:

“I’m a volunteer at heart in the community as well as a business person. I think that the direction of the PPN can only expand.”

Fiona Broadbery, Carlow PPN administrator, said, “The core benefit of joining a PPN is representation of the community on boards and committees within the local authority. We are also an information hub for all the communities, passing on information from different departments on funding available to increase capacity of the community groups.”

Patrick Fitzgerald, Limerick PPN, said, “It’s amazing to see the progress over ten years from it being a conception to being implemented and people being elected and getting to have a voice.

PPNs operate in all 31 local authority areas.