Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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254. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent of her Department's support through the public participation network for various groups and communities around the country over the past two years; her future proposals in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50298/21]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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A Public Participation Network (PPN) is a structure that brings together volunteer-led groups in each local authority area from the Community and Voluntary, Environment, and Social Inclusion sectors. The PPNs are the main link between these groups and their local authorities, and they enable the groups to make their voices heard within formal local decision-making structures. My Department supports and advances PPNs at a national level and they are accountable to my Department for their use of public monies and the activities they undertake on behalf of their communities.

It is important to note that PPNs are wholly independent entities and decide for themselves what networking and capacity-building supports they wish to provide to their member groups within the overarching objectives for the PPNs.

Over the past 2 years, my Department has provided direct funding of €151,400 to each of the 31 PPNs around the country (€75,700 in each year) as well as providing structural supports, and this will continue into the future. This funding supports the ongoing development of the PPNs. The Department also chairs and provides administrative support to the National PPN Advisory Group.

My Department is currently funding and advancing a number of important national initiatives and key recommendations made by PPN stakeholders in the PPNs' Annual Reports to promote their development (e.g. training, awareness-raising, IT support, visions for community wellbeing).

Two important initiatives supported by my Department in this regard are: the national training course for PPN stakeholders, which is currently ongoing, and a communications and awareness campaign due to be rolled out in 2022. The Department published a PPN Handbook in 2020 to assist and guide the PPNs and stakeholders in their day-to-day work. My Department is also working to set up an advisory service to give PPNs easy access to expert advice on best practice for operational questions related to HR and governance, which will be available to all PPNs starting in early 2022.

Earlier this year, my Department commissioned an independent review of PPN structures, which is considering the internal structures of PPNs themselves as well as the supports available to them. The review report is due in November and is expected to make recommendations on how to further improve PPN structures.

My Department is committed to continuing to support PPNs both financially and structurally so that local communities can continue to have an influence on matters that affect them.