Ms Sarah Clancy:

This is very specific to the PPNs. As workers, we are finding it very difficult. We are housed, for want of a better word, in the Department of Rural and Community Development, whereas the local authorities respond mostly to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. We have an issue with buy-in by the local authorities. The PPNs are legislated for and provide that our people should be there. We have a formal role in the local authority process. It is very difficult to establish that. We are one of the longer and steadier PPNs that has existed in County Clare.

As personnel change in each section, we need to do it over again. We need to say, "No, we're allowed to be here. No, we are not hippies or if we are hippies, we're still allowed to be here." People do not necessarily know why they have to listen to us or our representatives. We recommend that there should be a national advisory group with input from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. If the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is running local government and if our job in the PPNs is to influence local government policymaking but we are answerable to a different Department, then we have a difficulty in that understanding. When that is taken into the traditionally siloed and hierarchical culture of local authorities trying to engage with this mad thing that has a flat structure, much of the time they cannot figure out who is in charge of PPNs or whom they should talk to. There is a friction and tension there that is not productive because people are asking, "Why is that person criticising me? Is she allowed to?" We are allowed to and in fact and this is good for local authorities. It is like eating broccoli; this will improve the local authority.

As local authorities own their own need for rates and funding, their own need to ensure their own existence in some ways counteracts the overall good. It means the policies they are making try to ensure their own existence rather than necessarily being for the benefit of the wider community. Local authorities need proper funding. They should not be out touting for rates and deciding that a particular project, which will deliver good rates, is the best thing for their community when it may not be the best thing for their community. Those are the two things that I would say there. I agree with the Deputy that the groups have done extraordinary work.

There are energy projects, such as the Aran Islands energy project and the Tipperary Energy Agency. Some really good groups are out there basically building the stuff. If we can facilitate, enhance and encourage those instead of putting barriers in their way, it will definitely help us.