Registration deadline draws near for Clare PPN

ENNIS, Ireland - Dec. 29, 2014 - PRLog -- Groups and organisations in Clare's community, voluntary, environmental and social inclusion sectors have just over one week remaining to register their interest in participating in the newly established Public Participation Network (PPN).

Replacing the Clare Community Forum, the PPN is aimed at enhancing and expanding the role played by the public in the formulation of local government policy and the future development of local communities across Clare.

Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Councillor John Crowe is urging groups interested in becoming members of the Network to register their respective group by the deadline of Friday, 9th January 2015.

He added: "The PPN will enable community groups to interact with local government at different levels, as well as facilitate Clare County Council in developing policy and in plan making. It will be the main link through which the Council connects with the community and voluntary, social inclusion and environmental sectors. The PPN's primary objective is to enable the public to take an active formal role in the policy making and oversight activities of the Local Authority’s areas of responsibility."

A Clare County PPN will be established along with a PPN in each of Clare's four Municipal Districts, namely Ennis, Shannon, Killaloe and West Clare. PPN members will be able to nominate representatives to the Council's primary decision making bodies, including the Strategic Policy Committees (SPC).

Groups that do not register with the PPN will not be eligible to participate at PPN meetings, or be involved in the nomination process for seats on the decision making bodies of Clare County Council.  All groups that have previously registered with the Clare Community Forum / Clare County Council must register under this process if they wish to participate in the new structure.

Registration forms can be downloaded from www.clarecoco.ie and must be returned to Valerie Fleming, Tourism & Community, Clare County Council, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare by Friday, 9th January 2015.

For further information and criteria for membership, please visit www.clarecoco.ie or contact Valerie on 065 6846545 or vfleming@clarecoco.ie.