by badminme | Mar 11, 2021 | Local Community Development Committee, Members News, PPN News
![Cornelia Wahli](http://clareppn.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Cornelia_Wahli.jpg)
Clare County Council – Local Community and Development Committee
Meeting 24th February 2021 @ 11am – 12.30pm
Meeting Notes by Cornelia Wahli, Environmental Representative Clare PPN, 25.2.2021
- Minutes and matters arising
“Climate Change as an agenda item”
Discussion on how “Climate change as an agenda item” was being handled by other LCDCs. The feedback was that while SPCs were the appropriate fora for climate change discussions, the LCDCs were not. Also, it would be inappropriate to have an agenda item for the sake of having the agenda item.
Statements made in agreement and disagreement of above feedback.
Cornelia Wahli elaborated at length as to the need and necessity of having such an agenda point. She accepted that no LCDC had such an agenda item but that such an item was necessary and that the Clare LCDC could lead here. Cornelia Wahli made various strong points that the current status quo was no longer acceptable and applicable and therefore a new point of view needed to be adopted by all committees and departments regardless whether currently viewed as relevant or not. The point made was that Climate Change is relevant everywhere at any time and therefore a new standpoint needed to be adopted/a new status quo. Open the door to green thinking.
Conclusion:
- Green agenda item adopted per se but not for every meeting, maybe every second meeting
- Suggestion that maybe Cornelia Wahli could give a presentation. Cornelia Wahli welcomed an opportunity to do so.
- Is it possible that after all of the presentations made to the LCDCs that there is still a void and blank when it comes to Climate Action and Biodiversity?
Target: To have a green agenda item ready for the next meeting.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
- LCDC Membership:
4 members have reached the end of their term. A follow up email was sent and has been received in relation to this, i.e if one knew of someone interested in taking up the vacant positions.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
- SICAP update
Traveller movement / Traveller organization point was raised. Response was that various measures were in place for Travellers. Response was made that various “bodies” including Clare PPN were collaborating at the moment to improve the situation for Travellers.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
- Covid 19 Funding
- Covid 19 issues / poverty
Both points were dealt with as one point.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
- Any Other Business
- LECP (Local Economic and Community Plan). Pointed out that new plans are founded on old data, i.e. out of date census statistics etc are used. Request that for the new LECP, the census data from census 2021 (which I believe was moved to 3.4.2022 because of Covid 19) The new LECP review starting shortly, March: draft/guidelines, April: roll-out. No proper dates available yet but happening in the next two years. Some guess work as to when. Proper information to follow.
- Cornelia Wahli referred to the point of funding (see above points 4 and 5); asking whether a mechanism was in place where a community (group) that had received public funding could showcase their achievements. The point was raised since, as a newcomer to the committee, it was not clear, not visible to Cornelia Wahli what the outcome of the public funding was. This point was taken on board by the committee finding that it could be valuable to see in which locations and what type of projects received funding. Showcasing community efforts once a year on a voluntary basis was viewed positively.
Conclusion: It would be very interesting for this committee to see how much funding goes to each village and town in total (location) as well as the types of projects that were more frequently successful (projects), also it would be interesting to see how many of the projects had “green” credentials.
Target: Submit “achievements showcase” as one “green agenda item” for the next meeting based on the “green” credentials point.
by badminme | Mar 8, 2021 | Members News, PPN News
The Local Economic & Community Plan (LECP) for County Clare contains fourteen high level goals along with specific actions to drive economic, social and community development in the county over the next six years. We would like your input into the guidelines that will inform the next LECP 2022-2027
About the LECP
https://www.clarecoco.ie/services/community/lecp/
The current Clare LECP (2016-2021)
https://www.clarecoco.ie/services/community/lecp/clare-county-local-economic-and-community-plan-2016-2021-23211.pdf
LECP Guidelines 2015
http://clareppn.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/LECP-Guidelines.pdf
Questions from Department of Community & Rural Development regarding the Local Economic and Community Plan Guidelines:
Question 1: What are your overall thoughts on the format of the current LECP Guidelines?
Question 2: The Government is committed to supporting climate action efforts, and action taken at local level will be an essential part of the national effort. In a new chapter on Climate Action, what do you believe should be included?
Question 3: Continuing from Question 2, are there any other distinct policy areas that should have a dedicated section/chapter that should be included and why?
Question 4: We have adapted to the Covid-19 emergency and are now moving into the living with/recovery phase of the pandemic. How do you feel that the LECP should best reflect this situation?
Question 5: Please provide any other comments or views that you wish to have considered in respect of the format/content of the LECP Guidelines.
Please send your feedback to admin@clareppn.ie
by badminme | Mar 1, 2021 | Current, Members News, PPN News
Online survey aims to bring out the rainbow for Clare’s LGBTQ+ community
What would bring out the rainbow for LGBTQ+ people in Clare? What services and supports could make this community more visible, more connected and improve their quality of life? These are among the questions asked in an online survey launched today by LGBTQ+ Clare, a new project to establish the needs of this community in the Banner County.
LGBTQ+ Clare would like to hear from LGBTQ+ people about how connected they are to other LGBTQ+ people in Clare, whether they feel their identity and/or gender are understood and respected, or whether they experience discrimination.
The county-wide survey is being launched by LGBTQ+ Clare, a short-term project run jointly by Clare Public Participation Network, Clare Women’s Network, Clare Local Development Company and Rape Crisis Midwest, and supported by The Department of Rural and Community Development and Clare County Council.
The survey will be available until the closing date of March 31st, 2021 at this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LGBTQ_Clare
The survey results will help to assess what services and supports would improve local engagement and community spirit within the LGBTQ+ community in the Clare area. The organisations involved also hope to use the survey results to organise activities and opportunities including social meet-ups, political participation, campaigns and possibly a Pride event in Clare.
“The aim is to make the supports and services that are available for LGBTQ+ people in other parts of the country available to you in Clare, whether you’re in Killaloe, Kilfenora or Carrigaholt,” said Meabh Sexton of LGBTQ+ Clare.
“Considering the pandemic, now more than ever it is important to have these local services. We don’t want members of the community traveling to other counties to avail of services that could be provided here in Clare and we need people to engage and reach out within the LGTBQ+ community.”
Njabulo of LGBTQ+ Clare added: “This is Clare reborn, we are ensuring our visibility and taking up space in society with pride. For so long, we have been invisible. We really encourage members of the LGBTQ+ community in Clare to take this survey. This is a great opportunity to have your voice heard.”
“We know there are LGBTQ+ people in Clare of all ages, we know disability activists who are LGBTQ+ and we know too that there are LGBTQ people of migrant, Traveller and Roma backgrounds in Clare and we want to make sure that we hear every voice and view possible. Hopefully this survey can help us set up ways to communicate and build a supportive LGBTQ+ community across these differences.”
The survey is anonymous and confidential, although the findings may be published and used to inform the work of the organisations involved. No one will be identifiable from any report or publication arising from the survey.
The survey will be available until the closing date of March 31st, 2021 at this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LGBTQ_Clare
by badminme | Feb 22, 2021 | Members News, PPN News, SPC for Rural Development
REPORT TO PPN of SPC Rural Development 16th February 2021
by Anny Wise
This was the first meeting held completely on ZOOM. The agenda included COVID-19 community response which was a presentation and we were asked for suggestions. But a long discussion was had.
The second presentation was on DigiClare and broadband roll-out.
Several suggestions were made especially on the location of forthcoming hubs – and that the National broadband rollout to start from Limerick Clare. That being South East Clare towards Kilkishen and East Clare to Parteen and above. The Eircom Infrastructure such as replace pole is to go through the planning process.
When the Climate Change and Biodiversity came on the agenda – I was asked to report. I gave information of the Wind Farm procedure going through the department of Malcom Noolan (I met him with another committee on Zoom earlier that week) and pointed out that with extreme wind if trees appear to be in danger – cut the branches and not the tree. I gave statistic on the benefit of trees.
I than asked for suggestions from the Power Point shown at the last meeting – there were none. I than offered to make one for the next meeting and this was agreed.
The subject was to be “Methods of Home Heating.
The final point on the agenda was the fact that Clare’s Rural Development Strategy was to be reviewed – it was felt some of it was already outdated. The Rural Development Forum was to give our committee proposed changes.
I had already asked for Jean Tierney O’Keeffe wanted to bring under any other Business
She spoke on behalf of the PPN – saying that as National Water Resources Plan meeting on Zoom on Monday 22nd February – the members were then sent a notice and link to it the following day.
by badminme | Feb 19, 2021 | Current, Members News, PPN News
Clare PPN Newsletter February 2021
Our February newsletter has landed. We’ve given it a spring clean. Hope you like the new format. Click here to see a PDF of the newsletter:
http://clareppn.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Newsletter-Feb2021.pdf
by badminme | Feb 15, 2021 | Members News, PPN News
Irish Water has extended its public consultation for the first National Water Resources Plan (NWRP) until 1st March. Clare PPN has been asked by our member groups to hold an information and consultation event with a view to making a community informed submission. It will be a chance to identify the issues and challenges around water supply in your area.
This will take place on Monday, 22nd February at 6.30 via Zoom. If you would like to attend please email admin@clareppn.ie
The draft Framework Plan can be viewed here: https://www.water.ie/projects-plans/our-plans/nwrp/
The consultation information leaflet can be viewed here: https://www.water.ie/news/irish-water-publishes-its/NWRP-Information-Leaflet.pdf