What is the aim of Westmeath PPN Westmeath PPN? Our aim is to support Public community groups & co-ordinate how the community in Westmeath Participation is represented. Network We also aim to: Make our members stronger: and keep our members informed about local developments The Voice of the Community What does Westmeath VOLUME 2 ISSUE 10 OCTOBER 2019 PPN do? We empower our member Dear Westmeath PPN Plenary groups to influence policy makers. We are delighted to Welcome all our new and sitting Represent- atives and/or Delegates of Westmeath Public Participation Net- work (WPPN) –(see full list on page 2 & 3). We thank them all most sincerely for volunteering to represent the Community & What’s in this Voluntary groups of Westmeath affiliated to WPPN (currently 707 groups- Sept 2019) Month’s Issue The essence of PPNs is evident from their title - Participation. The PPNs are facilitating par- ticipation and enabling engagement between government and communities like never be- Westmeath PPN Elections 2 Results 2019 fore. The PPNs empower, enable and encourage people and communities to become in- volved, to have their say, to contribute, and to help shape the policies and programmes PPNs & Engagement in which impact on all of us. the Political Process 4 In Ireland we are very fortunate to have a strong and vibrant community and voluntary Rural Policy 2020 - sector with organisations in every community in every county. The PPNs facilitate new con- Public Consultation 4 nections and interactions between these local organisations and local government. The val- ue of volunteering must also be remembered with 33 WPPN representatives/delegates HSE Suicide Behaviour working diligently for the good of their communities and all communities in Westmeath. Awareness & Training 5 Programmes The PPNs complement the work of local councils and councillors with PPN representatives working alongside councillors and bringing new insights and experience. WPPN knows our Town and Village 5 Christmas Lights Grants most effective and impactful work is that which had the greatest level of input by and en- 2019 gagement with the communities. Who better to know what is best for their communities than local people. MRPPN - Great 7 Environment Day For the most part the eight members of WPPN Secretariat are at the beginning of serving their second five-year term of office but are still vividly aware of how it felt in the early Bunbrosna Multyfarnham days of having been nominated to the various committees and boards on which WPPN has Ballinafid Active Retire- 9 ment Association News representatives and delegates. WPPN understands how important it is that new WPPN Representatives and Delegates are supported, trained and mentored, particularly in the Women’s Aid Online early days. It’s a lot to absorb in the beginning with formal structures of some committees Survey for Survivors of 10 & boards, who’s who and their job/role, acronyms etc. Therefore, a WPPN Representative Domestic Abuse information pack has been created, for information, a learning tool, also a resource pack. We hope that it will be used in conjunction with induction training and the creation Polish-Irish Choral 11 of a WPPN Representative Network which is planned to meet approx. 4 times per year, for Concert updates, training, peer to peer learning and simply to find out what’s going on in other com- mittees and boards and in communities. What is the PPN - Public Participation Network ? 19 Over time we hope that you will gain a deeper insight into the valuable work that the PPN FREE CPR Course does/undertakes and we need you to know that we as a Secretariat are here to support you, as is WPPN Resource Worker Brigid Geoghegan & Support worker Margaret Egan. Rathowen Community 20 Centre - Hands for Life Welcome again WPPN Representative and Delegates and thank you for coming on board to be The Voice of the Community Your sincerely WPPN Secretariat Stay in Touch: www.westmeathppn.ie P A G E 2 Westmeath PPN Elections Results 2019 Surname First Name Nominating Group Pillar Municipal WPPN Secretariat Brady Kevin Streete Community Development Community & Voluntary Athlone Kiernan Margaret BMB ARA Social Inclusion Athlone Mangan John Castletown Geoghegan Mens Shed Environment Athlone MD Drury Anne BMB ARA Social Inclusion Mullingar Raftis Dave Westmeath, Environment & Climate Action Network Environment Mullingar McCormack Maureen Active Retirement Ireland Mullingar Municipal Mullingar Farrell Hugh Irish Wheelchair Asociation Athlone Municipal District Athlone McEntee Catherine Grange Community Group Community & Voluntary Mullingar WPPN Joint Policing Committee (JPC) Reps Grennan Kathleen Rosemount Tidy Towns Community & Voluntary Athlone Raftis Dave Kinnegad Combined CE Scheme Community & Voluntary Mullingar Mulvey Michael Independent People with Disabilities Social Inclusion Athlone Furlong Joyce Athlone Streetwise Social Inclusion Athlone Grimes Pat Dalton Park Management Group Mullingar RAPID Area Mullingar ?? Awaiting Election Athlone RAPID Area Athlone WPPN Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) Reps McDermott Seamus Fore, Heritage & Amenity group Community & Voluntary Mullingar Farrell Hugh Irish Wheelchair Association Social Inclusion Athlone Furlong Joyce Athlone Streetwise Social Inclusion Athlone Kiernan Margaret BMB ARA Social Inclusion Athlone WPPN Westmeath Community Development (WCD) Reps Mangan John Castletown Geoghegan Men's Shed Social Inclusion Athlone MD Heduan Paul Westmeath, Environment & Climate Action Network Environment Mullingar Donnelly Helen SkillsXchange Community & Voluntary Mullingar Garry Marian Clonmellon Community Council Community & Voluntary Mullingar Ivers Catherine Making Space Athlone Artist Collective Community & Voluntary Athlone Adagun Augustina Athlone Womens Forum - the African Connection Social Inclusion Athlone Browne Seamus Drumraney Development Group Community & Voluntary Athlone WPPN Midland Regional Drugs & Alcohol Task Force Rep Raftis Dave Kinnegad Combined CE Scheme Community & Voluntary Mullingar WPPN County Childcare Committee Rep Cox Mary BMB ARA Social Inclusion Mullingar Above and over is the list of All WPPN Representatives (Reps) and Delegates, both newly elected and sitting following elections at September 10th Plenary and two Municipal District meeting on 17th & 19th Sept Note an Individual can be elected to a maximum of 2 committees/boards An elected Secretariat member can sit on 2 boards plus the Secretariat As per WPPN Constitution Congratulations & Thank you to All New & Existing Reps WPPN Housing, Community, Corporate & Culture SPC Reps Morrison Bob Mullingar Camera Club C&V Mullingar Farrell Hugh Irish Wheelchair Association Social Inclusion Athlone WPPN Environment, Climate Action, Water & Emergency Reps Redmond Jimmy Moate Tidy Towns Community & Voluntary Athlone O'Sullivan Jack Westmeath, Environment & Climate Action Network Environment Mullingar WPPN Planning & Transport SPC Nominations Reps McDermott Seamus Fore, Heritage & Amenity group C & V Mullingar Hough Alison Westmeath, Environment & Climate Action Network Environment Mullingar WPPN Economic Development, Enterprise & Tourism SPC Rep McDonnell Eilish Horseleap/ Streamstown Community Development Community & Voluntary Athlone WPPN Westmeath Heritage Forum Reps Brady Kevin Streete Community Development Community & Voluntary Mullingar Ivers Catherine Making Space Athlone Artist Collective Community & Voluntary Athlone WPPN Rep to Westmeath Water Monitoring Committee Browne Seamus Drumraney Development Group Community & Voluntary Athlone WPPN Rep to Music Generation Morrisson Bob Kinnegad Combined CE Scheme Community & Voluntary Mullingar WPPN Westmeath Sports & Recreation Rep Bagnall Vincent Kinnegad Combined CE Scheme Community & Voluntary Mullingar Mullingar Municipal District Delegates McCormack Maureen Active Retirement Ireland Social Inclusion Mullingar Drury Anne Ballinafid, Multyfarnham Bunbrosna ARA Social Inclusion Mullingar Carter John Gleniden Res Assoc Community & Voluntary Mullingar Brady Kevin Streete Action Group Community & Voluntary Mullingar Griffin Paula Transformative Recovery College Social Inclusion Mullingar Whelehan Cathryn Rochfortbridge Tidy Towns Community & Voluntary Mullingar Athlone Municipal District Delegates Farrell Hugh Irish Wheelchair Association Social Inclusion Athlone Mulvey Michael Independent People with Disabilities Social Inclusion Athlone Slammon Louise Cairde Nua, Athlone Social Inclusion Athlone Cvetkovic Irena Athlone Community radio Community & Voluntary Athlone Quinn Linda Jo Disability Working Group Social Inclusion Athlone Donoghue Jonathan Mount Temple/Baylin Community Alert Community & Voluntary Athlone P A G E 4 PPNs & Engagement in the Political Process It should be noted that Department Circular CVSP 8/2018 states: PPNs and Engagement in the Political Process As specified in both the Guidelines for PPNs which issued from the Department in 2014 and in the subse- quent PPN User Guide, PPN representation is based in volunteer- led organisations and, as such, must be a separate process from the political process. (TDs, MEPs, Senators, Councillors Etc.). The Department now re-affirms the position regarding PPN engagement with the political process, spe- cifically: o Elected representatives of Local Authorities, Oireachtas members or European Parliament members cannot be nominated through the PPN process. o If anyone nominated to the PPN through this process subsequently decides to enter electoral politics, at either Local