PPN Representative Vacancies July 2024 – GRD Board Members (East Galway) X 2 & Per Cent Public Art Group (Claregalway) X 1

10/07/2024 [email protected]

Please see below information on Three Vacant PPN Representative Positions which we are currently open for nominations from within the membership of Galway County Public Participation Network’s (PPN).

  • TWO Board Member roles for Galway Rural Development, nominations open for Reps from within the PPN who are based in East County Galway (anywhere except for Connemara Municipal District).
  • ONE Community Rep for Per Cent Public Art Working Group for Claregalway, nominations open for Reps from within the PPN who are based in the Claregalway area.

(PLEASE READ THIS WHOLE POST BEFORE APPLYING)

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ABOUT PPN REPRESENTATIVES:

“Local Authorities and other local bodies have a range of Committees and Boards to support them to develop policy by involving external expertise. This expertise can be drawn from sectoral interests such as employers, farmers, trades unions and the community.
Community representation – that of the Community and Voluntary, Social Inclusion and Environmental sectors – is a core function of the PPN.
Other groups who have representation through other pillars of social partnership e.g. trade unions, farming and business organisations, cannot seek representation through the PPN.
The Local Authority must use the PPN to appoint Community Representatives to these Boards and Committees and to ensure that they are listened to.
PPN Representatives must then provide feedback to the PPN and their Linkage Group, within the limits of confidentiality, about what was discussed at their meetings and the outcomes of these discussions. It is the responsibility of the PPN Representatives to provide this feedback.”

(PPN Handbook; Section 5, P.40 – The Representatives).


WHO CAN BE A PPN REPRSENTATIVE:

The following criteria will apply in making a decision on who to nominate:

  • The track record of the nominee in working on the issue that is the focus for the representative forum.
  • The ability of the nominee to make an effective contribution.
  • The participation of people experiencing the problem/issue to be addressed at the representative forum.
  • Whether the problem/issue to be addressed at the forum is a ‘core issue’ for the PPN member.
  • As far as possible ensuring fair distribution of positions across geographical areas.
  • As far as possible ensuring gender balance.
  • A commitment from the person(s) to participate fully with the Linkage Group, including reporting back.
  • Individuals are generally nominated and elected through a PPN Electoral College, which is either their group’s:
    – PPN Pillar (Community & Voluntary/Social Inclusion/Environment),
    – Municipal District (MD’s: Athenry, Ballinasloe, Connemara, Loughrea, Tuam),
    – OR a more specific location or cohort of people in County Galway – it depends on the Representative role being applied for.

APPLICATION & NOMINATION PROCESS:

  • Nomination forms have been emailed to all Galway County PPN Member Groups within the relevant geographical location (if you haven’t received the email, check your junk inbox, or check with the PPN designated contacts in your group).
  • Deadline for nominations is Wednesday 31st July 2024.
  • One Nomination per PPN Member Group.
  • An individual cannot nominate themselves; the other members of a PPN registered group can nominate one member of their group for the position.
  • A vote will be held after the deadline if there are multiple nominations; 1 vote per PPN registered group, and votes only from groups in the relevant geographical area for the role.
  • Nomination forms and further information have been emailed to all relevant Galway County PPN Member Groups.
  • If you have any queries regarding these roles, please email [email protected].

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • A Representative is elected for a fixed term to represent the issues of Member Groups on a particular Board or Committee.
  • PPN Reps are elected to represent the PPN as a whole, or their group’s Municipal District/area, or their PPN Electoral College, and not only the interests of their group or their own individual views.
  • There are guidelines to be followed, from the PPN perspective and from the committee the Rep will be sitting on. These would include details such as the duration of the role, responsibilities of the Rep, responsibility to declare any conflict of interest, a code of conduct, etc.
  • The role of PPN Representative is an active and participative one which requires commitment and time. Before a potential Representative decides that they want to be nominated, they should read their PPN’s Representative Charter in full and ask their PPN Resource Worker if they have any questions or need anything clarified.
  • Representatives are required to communicate regularly with their Linkage / Thematic Groups, to make sure that they are bringing agreed and relevant issues to the Boards and Committees on which they sit. They are also required to report back regularly to Linkage / Thematic Groups (and the wider PPN through the staff and Secretariat committee) using the standard PPN reporting template. A sample Reporting Template is set out in Appendix 4.

PLEASE READ THE BELOW DOCUMENTS BEFORE APPLYING FOR A PPN REP ROLE.

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VACCANCIES FOR PPN REPRESENTATIVES:

 

  • Two board member roles for Galway Rural Development:

We wish to invite nominations for a representative from a PPN member group in the East County Galway area to sit on the board of Galway Rural Development (GRD) (East Galway = Ballinasloe, Loughrea Gort, Tuam, Athenry, Oranmore, etc – everywhere except Connemara).

Galway Rural Development deliver a range of EU and national programmes including the LEADER Programme, SICAP (Social and Community Activation Programme), the RSS and TÚS schemes, WorkAbility, and Parent Child Plus.

GRD also acts as a sponsor of a CE scheme, have integration roles in partnership with the HSE, manage Empowering Communities in Ballinasloe, Rural Regeneration Development Fund projects, environmental initiatives, and have a range of stand-alone projects.

We welcome nominees for two Board roles, from the PPN for the invaluable perspective and genuine contribution you have always made to our organisation.

The following are some of the specifics of the roles:

– Directors make a valuable input into the operations and governance to the local development operations in the county.

– Meetings take place on the third Wednesday of each month at 6pm in the Teagasc Campus – except August. Meetings are 1-2 hours in duration. Zoom available.

– Expenses: GRD can cover travel expenses if they are within a reasonable distance from the campus.

 

Please note that our board works tirelessly toward gender and wider equality.

GRD looks forward to receiving your nomination and working with your representatives, subject to board approval.

The term of this role would be between 3-5 years, PPN Reps have the option to re-nominate for a second term, with the second term included it should be no longer than 5 years.

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  • One Community Rep for Claregalway Per Cent for Art Working Group:

We wish to invite nominations for one Community representative from a PPN member group in the Claregalway area to sit on a Local Public Art Working Group for the Claregalway Scheme led by Galway County Council Arts Office.

Per Cent For Art Commission-OPW Flood Relief Schemes (Corrib/Clare Flood Relief) in conjunction with Galway County Council has awarded Claregalway Per Cent Art funding.

A public Art group is being formed for this project and we are looking for one representative from the Claregalway area. We would be delighted if you include why you are interested in public art.

 

The duration of the term for the PPN Rep on this project is not determined yet, but could be anywhere from 3 months to a year.

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Le dea-ghuí (with kindest regards)
Duana Tuite
Acting Resource Worker
Public Participation Network (PPN) Galway County
Líonra Rannpháirtíochta Pobail (PPN) Chontae na Gaillimhe
Admin Email: [email protected]
Tel: 087 233 0720 | 091 378 817 | Email: [email protected]  
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