Longford's Siobhan Cronogue pleads the case for extra funding for PPNs nationwide

Public Participation Networks (PPN) from around the country headed to Leinster House last Wednesday, September 18 to enter into pre -budget talks with Deputies and Senators.

A special thanks was given from 31 PPN Secretariats, Coordinators, Support Workers and members to Senator Micheál Carrigy for the invitation and opportunity to discuss the future of PPNs in terms of funding. Michelle Gettings, Senator Carrigy’s administrator, was also thanked for coordinating the meeting.

Siobhán Cronogue, County Longford PPN Coordinator and Bridie Costello, Offaly PPN were the presenters on the day.
Ms Cronogue gave a breakdown of membership over the decade to cross party and Independent TD’s and Senators. She explained that when the previous community structure, the Community & Voluntary Fora were wound down membership from county to county ranged from 50 to a couple of hundred groups whereas at end of last year membership of the PPN stood at 19,409 and it was estimated that it would rise to 22,000 community groups by the end of 2024.

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She outlined the benefits of PPNs which included having over 1,000 representatives on 418 decision making committees such as Local Community Development Committees, Strategic Policy Committees, County Tourism Boards, Local Development Companies, County Childcare Committees to name but a few. She also explained the process for how these representatives are elected and the heavy workload involved.

Attendees were told that PPNs were the one stop shop for circulating information on grants, consultations, events for Local Authorities and various Government Departments and were the go to people when new programmes and roles were launched in the community. In essence PPNs are the gateway to the community and their response to the pandemic and the war on Ukraine proved this.

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Ms Cronogue also said there was a misconception that community groups only join the PPN for funding purposes and gave an example of the importance of being involved in the PPN by Disability Reps who are more interested in raising awareness, being consulted on infrastructural works and having their voice heard than drawing down grants.

Ms Cronogue ended her presentation by presenting figures that prove that PPNs save the Government billions of euro per year yet are so poorly funded and staffed.

Bridie Costello presented the challenges facing PPNs in relation to the lack of funding and staff. It is fair to say that all TD’s and Senators in the room were shocked to hear the PPNs were expected to deliver such heavy work plans under these conditions.
She informed the room that PPNs were expected to run these big networks on a budget of €25 - €30k per year which includes capacity building, elections, equipment, insurance, travel, advertising and all projects and activities.

PPNs have only received one increase in ten years, an increase of €10k which due to inflation made no impact for community groups on the ground. She also explained that staff cannot keep up with the workload as there is only one coordinator and one temporary support worker. It is increasingly challenging to actually get out on the ground to support groups as there just isn’t the time.

Attendees were told that PPNs were seeking additional staff inline with other similar units.

Ms Costello said PPNs were seeking €1.5m core funding from central Government to continue to support participation particularly from the most socially excluded in the community.

There was great engagement during the Q&A with Muriel Tobin, Waterford PPN, Dan Bergin, Laois PPN and Paul Clabby, Roscommon PPN joining Ms Cronogue and Ms Costello on the panel. By the end of the meeting every TD and Senator in the room promised PPNs their support.

Senator Carrigy said ‘it was an honour to host the Public Participation Networks (PPNs) at Leinster House this week’. He added, “This meeting was an important step in ensuring that PPNs have a strong and recognised voice in our national conversation. I fully support their call for increased funding in Budget 2025, which will enable them to continue their vital work in advocating for and representing communities across Ireland. It's crucial that we continue to strengthen their role in shaping policy and decision-making at the highest levels.”

PPN Secretariats and staff from all counties around the country eagerly await the announcement of Budget 2025 at the beginning of October.