Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

It is important to say the PPNs are independent structures and are funded independently. We gave them a significant budgetary increase last year as well.

I have a couple of important points to add. On foot of the findings from the PPN structural review, the Department is commissioning research to investigate any potential barriers to involvement in PPNs. The research will explore the demographic characteristics of groups currently involved in PPNs and make recommendations on increasing participation of any underrepresented groups in PPNs. I would like to see more young people involved in PPNs and it is something we need to target. On the Deputy's question, the Department is also providing supports to a group of PPN stakeholders to develop a paper exploring the potential of PPNs to specifically promote climate action locally. Once that paper is finalised, it will be submitted to the Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action for its consideration. The workshop on that is on 1 July. Membership of the environmental pillar is growing significantly, especially over the last four or five years. That is a reason to be encouraged, going forward.

See this speech in context