Our latest newsletter is here! Packed with news of events, funding opportunities and more. Click here to see a PDF of the newsletter:
https://clareppn.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/dec-2022-newsletter.pdf
Clare PPN operates on the basis of an annual Work Plan which is devised by the staff and Secretariat according to our remit. Our Work Plan for 2023 was presented at the Clare PPN Plenary meetings on December 8th, 2022.
The Plan will be ratified before Jan 15th, until which time Clare PPN members can send us their input, comments or questions.
When it has been ratified, we then agree it with Clare County Council and sign a Service Level Agreement with them on that basis. You can read our draft work plan for 2023 here:
https://clareppn.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/ClarePPN-Draft-2023-WorkPlan.pdf
Our latest newsletter is here! With news of our plenaries on 8th December, in-person trainings, webinars, funding opportunities and more. Click here to see a PDF of the newsletter:
https://clareppn.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/nov-2022-newsletter.pdf
Local communities in Clare are set to have a greater role in community safety and policing, thanks to a new government initiative that will replace the Joint Policing Committee. However, it is vital that the Local Community Safety Partnership (LCSP) has genuine community involvement, as set out in the government’s proposal.
The LCSP – a proposed partnership between local community representatives and State agencies to identify and tackle community safety issues – has the potential to bring greater democracy to community policing and to be a powerful tool for communities. However, Clare PPN is concerned by developments in Waterford, where tensions have arisen at a pilot LCSP which lacks “proper community involvement”, according to a Waterford PPN representative.
Clare PPN plans to hold a public meeting early in the new year to provide information about, and discuss, the proposed partnership and how it might work in Clare.
What are LCSPs?
Community safety is a broad concept that goes beyond just policing and crime – it’s about people being and feeling safe in their communities. This includes everything from visible Gardaí and improved street lighting to safe places for children to play.
With this in mind, the Local Community Safety Partnership (LCSP) is a new government initiative to identify and tackle community safety issues. LCSPs will build on and eventually replace the existing Joint Policing Committees (JPCs) and will provide a forum for State agencies and local community representatives to work together to act on community concerns.
According to the Dept of Justice, “membership of the partnerships will be broader than that of the existing JPCs and will include residents, community representatives (including youth, new communities and voluntary sector representation), business and education sector representation, relevant public services including the HSE, Tusla, An Garda Síochána and local authorities as well as local councillors.”
In 2021, three pilot LCSPs were set up in Longford, Waterford and Dublin’s North Inner City. These pilot partnerships, which will run for 24 months, will devise and implement the Local Community Safety Plan.
Clare PPN has enquired of the Dept of Justice and Clare County Council as to when the scheme is likely to be initiated in Clare and we will update when we find out.
Looking ahead to an LCSP in Clare
Clare PPN believes that if planned and set up in accordance with the vision set out by the Dept of Justice and in genuine consultation with the community sector, the LCSP has the potential to be a powerful tool for communities in Co Clare, giving residents and community representatives a genuine voice in policing and community safety.
An article in the Dublin Inquirer gives a great account of the pilot scheme in Dublin’s north inner city, where “the partnership aims to give a voice to locals, volunteers and community representatives, and to bolster those making positive contributions to their community”.
We are keen to find out what the process will be for selecting the membership, chairperson and co-ordinator of the LCSP in Clare.
Clare PPN plans to hold a public meeting about the proposed LCSP early in the new year. We will advertise the meeting once we have found a suitable date.
Clare PPN’s Environmental College recently made two submissions on the topic of biodiversity as part of separate public consultation processes. You can download PDFs of these submissions at the links below.
Clare PPN submission to the Citizen’s Assembly on Biodiversity Loss:
https://clareppn.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Clare-PPN-Submission-to-Citizens-Assembly-on-Biodiversity-Loss.pdf
Clare PPN submission to the 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan:
https://clareppn.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Clare-PPN-Submission-4th-Nat-Biodiversity-Action-Plan-9-Nov-2022.pdf
What is a Plenary Meeting?
Plenary meetings are the main decision-making forums for Clare PPN. At these meetings all member groups are invited to attend and to put items forward for the agenda for discussion or for inclusion in the work plan of Clare PPN. At each of these meetings the staff and secretariat of Clare PPN present an update on the work, finances, and activities of the PPN and present their work plan for discussion and input from member groups. Clare PPN’s representatives who sit on 11 boards and committees in the County will also have an opportunity to present updates from their committees and to take any questions or input from member groups at this meeting.
Call for Agenda Items:
All current member groups can propose agenda items for this meeting on or before Thursday 1st December. Please send these using the subject line: ”Agenda Item Plenary Meeting” to admin@clareppn.ie
Submitting a motion
If you would like to bring a motion to the Plenary, please email admin@clareppn.ie by Thursday 1st December, with the wording of the motion and outlining why you would like to see the motion passed.