Kerry Public Participation Network has been established to enable community groups in Co Kerry to have a say on issues that concern them. These Public Participation Networks (PPNs) are structures for public engagement and participation in Local Government in each Local Authority area.
Kerry Public Participation Network is also a Registered Charity. RCN 20204668
The PPN is the mechanism through which the Local Authority links/engages with the broader community sector and are the representative voice of the community and voluntary, social inclusion and environmental sectors.
The main role of the PPN is to form a network bringing together all community and voluntary groups, social inclusion groups, and environmental interest groups. Information is shared and people can work together on policy matters.
The PPN also facilitates groups to nominate representatives to local authority policy making boards and committees including the Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) and Strategic Policy Committees (SPCs).
The national guidelines define the types of groups that can register for the PPN structure as follows:
When a group registers it becomes part of the County PPN Structure. Registration is easy. Please complete the Registration Form on the home page. There is no charge. Registered groups receive regular updates, information on funding opportunities and also benefit from the group insurance scheme.
Every organisation that registers becomes part of the County PPN. All registered environmental, social inclusion, voluntary and community groups in Co Kerry are invited to become part of this structure. A County Plenary Meeting is when all registered Groups are invited to a County Meeting however because of the size of the County Mini Plenaries can take place throughout Kerry at these meetings information is shared. Information is also shared via the Kerry PPN website and Facebook page.
In Co. Kerry there are 5 Municipal Districts; Tralee, Listowel, Killarney, Kenmare and Corca Dhuabhne (see section on Municipal Districts). Each Municipal District has its own PPN. When registering, organisations select which municipal district they are located in. If you are engaged county wide please register in all 5 areas. Each Municipal District PPN is expected to hold regular meetings made up of all registered community&voluntary, environmental and social inclusion organisations in the District. Information from these meetings will be forwarded to the County Secretariat by the Municipal District Representative.
The Municipal District PPN has the freedom to engage as it sees fit in whatever way it wishes to promote local development and in this way it can harness local capacity and strengthen local development in a very real manner. Each Municipal District PPN elects a member to the Secretariat.
When an organisation/group joins the PPN, they select the type of group that best describes their work and the Municipal District that they are based in.
Each County PPN has a Secretariat. This Secretariat comprises of one representative from each Municipal Area and two representatives from each of the Electoral colleges of Community&Voluntary, Social Inclusion and Environment.
The Secretariat is elected from the membership as outlined in the Constitution
The Kerry PPN Secretariat is an elected body whose role is to:
There are 11 members on the Kerry PPN Secretariat. An election in each of the 5 Municipal District PPNs elects 1 member from each to the Secretariat. The other members are elected by the 3 electoral colleges of the County PPN who each nominate 2 members to the Secretariat. The Secretariat meets on a monthly basis and is the Administrative Body of the PPN.
If you would like to get in contact with any members of the Secretariat, please email ppn@kerrycoco.ie
| Name | Sector/College |
|---|---|
| Jennifer Coffey O’Sullivan | Community and Voluntary |
| Sean Lyons | Community and Voluntary |
| John Spillane | Social Inclusion Pillar |
| Maura Fitzgerald | Social Inclusion Pillar |
| Bill Morrell | Environmental Pillar |
| Anne Marie Fuller | Environmental Pillar |
| Alan O'Connell | Tralee MD |
| Connie O’Leary | Killarney MD |
| Tómas Stack | Listowel MD |
| Patricia Holbein | Kenmare MD |
| Derry Murphy | Castleisland / Corca Dhuibhne |
Linkage Groups are information and support groups set up to support the representatives elected on to the different committees. Set up on a thematic basis members can discuss and develop policy. These Linkage Groups are open to members of all PPN affiliated groups/organisations and people that feel that they can contribute to the topic or issues being discussed.
| Strategic Policy Committee | Social Inclusion Sector/College | Environment Sector/College | Community & Voluntary Sector/College | Ionadaí na Gaeilge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economic Development Enterprise & Community SPC (1 Seat) | ||||
| Roads, Transportation & Marine SPC SPC (1 Seat) | Keith Phelan | |||
| Environment ,Climate Change & Emergency Planning SPC (2 Seats) | Tony Hanlon | Anne Marie Fuller | ||
| Roads, Transportation & Marine SPC SPC (1 Seat) | Keith Phelan | |||
| Housing SPC (2 Seats) | Maura Fitzgerald | Jennifer O'Sullivan | ||
| Culture , Heritage & the Gaeltacht SPC ( 3 Seats ) | Declan Evans | Michael O’Mahony | John Prendergast |
| General Representation | Sean Roche |
| Groups working with Young People | Connie O’Leary |
| Groups working with Older People | William Morrell |
| Groups working with Non Nationals , migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees | |
| Groups working with Roma and Travellers. | Bridget Quillgan |
| Groups working with Road Safety / Transport | awaits |
| Business Community | awaits |
Kerry Public Participation Network as a Registered Charity has four trustees
they are:
Maura Fitzgerald, John Spillane, William Morrell, Connie O’Leary and Anne-Marie Fuller