PPN ‘shocked and disappointed’ by funding cut

The Cavan Public Participation Network (PPN) says they are “shocked and disappointed” and are fearful they may not be able to pay basic expenses to volunteers or even bin collections, after learning the Council has slashed funding for the community and voluntary support network next year.

Informed its funding from Cavan Council next year will be €15,000, with a pro rata top-up of €25,000 from the Department of Environment, the PPN says the figure remains far-short of amount needed to maintain an organisation which exceeded “all targets for the year”.

“In 2015, the Cavan PPN received €41,000 which was less than required to employ a support worker or to pay any expenses to the volunteers who drive and travel on behalf of community across Cavan. Nor has this been enough to provide even basics such as paper or even bin collections,” Patricia O’Reilly, Acting Chair of Cavan PPN told The Anglo-Celt this week.

The PPN claim by comparison, the total to be drawn down in 2016 is just half of what is available after the Department allocated €2.48 million to support the networks, with a maximum of €50,000 per local authority, and €30,000 from Council own resources.

“The recent notification that Cavan County Council will only provide €15,000 has been a shock to the volunteers of the PPN and implies that Cavan County Council are not committed to improving the conditions of its community and voluntary network despite the PPN exceeding its targets for the year,” Ms O’Reilly said.

When contacted on the matter, the Council says it has “not reduced” funding for the PPN in 2016, a statement the PPN claim is “inaccurate”.

The Council say: “A decision was made by Cavan County Council to maintain the Budget for the PPN in 2016 at 2015 levels. The funding is being maintained at 2015 levels in the face of competing financial pressures. It is important to note that the funding provided in 2015 represented a significant increase over the amount provided in 2014 (€32,442.77).”

The Council add that it “has been and continue to be” a strong supporter of Cavan PPN and has committed substantial resources since the organisation’s inception in 2014.

In response, the PPN have since written to the newly installed Cavan Council CEO Tommy Ryan requesting an “urgent reconsideration” of the recommendation to cut their funding  prior to the Council agreeing the 2016 Budgets later this week, November 27.

“We have always valued the tremendous collaboration and partnership enjoyed between us and the Council and we, like you, share the Cavan motto, namely ‘to be the best at what we do’. In that spirit we request the restoration of a €30,000 Council contribution towards the CPPN for 2016,” the PPN have told Mr Ryan.