The best way to learn about the core work of the Public Participation Network, is to watch the PPN Representatives in the committees. We are very lucky in Dublin City, that all the Strategic Policy Committees (SPC) meetings are recorded, so you can access them live, or from the archive, online. This incredible resource is a great way to find out what the PPN Representatives are saying and doing, on your behalf.
Sebastian Vencken comes from the PPN member group, Broadstone Basin Residents’ Association (BBRA), which is in the Community and Voluntary Pillar of the PPN. The three different pillars in the PPN are ways to organise all the different member groups. Sebastian was elected to be a Representative of the Community and Voluntary pillar, to sit on the Planning and Urban Regeneration SPC in the autumn of 2024, after the last local elections. The PPN was invited to sit on this committee, to offer “advice and assistance” on strategic and policy issues, and not on operational matters. The committee is made up of local councillors, from a variety of constituencies and parties, and other stakeholders, and the committee is chaired by Cllr Cian Farrell.
Over the past year, the committee has been discussing a variety of issues and themes, such as:
- The implementation of the 2024 Planning and Development Act.
- Updates on the Built Heritage Investment Scheme, Historic Structure Fund and Community Monuments Fund.
- Updates on the Urban Redevelopment Working Group, and presentation of the framework and report.
- Review of the Dublin City Development Plan 2022 – 2028, and preparations for the new plan.
- Baile Bogain and Kylemore masterplans.
- Section 48 Development Contribution Scheme review
- Revision of the Casual Trading Byelaws,
- Briefing on new design standards for apartments and Section 28 National Planning Statements
- Child Infrastructure Working Group and report, by the DCC working group.
If you have a general request or issue with planning, it could be that your problem can be logged and solved, simply by working your way through the Citizens Hub, which you can access here. You might like to take your problem to your local councillor, and you can find your local councillor here.
But if your active PPN member group, is interested in any of the issues above, and would like to talk to Sebastian about your problem, concern, question or comment, then please email the PPN, and we will put you in touch with Seb.
Sebastian has said many times, that he is volunteering his time as a PPN Representative because he wants to serve his community and improve the situation in Dublin City for those who live, work, study and visit. He does not want to volunteer his time, energy, experience and knowledge for nothing. So please do reach out to him, if you would like more information. No question is too bizarre, unusual, small or big.
Sebastian was at the last Planning and Urban Regeneration Meeting on Wednesday 24 June at 2.00pm and you can access a video of that meeting here.
The meeting was then followed up by two media pieces in the Dublin Inquirer, and you can access articles from the Dublin Inquirer below.
Dublin City Council planner throws cold water on plea to publish info online about planning enforcement case: here
A new plan envisions Dublin City Council helping to fill creche spaces with actual creches: here
In the past, the PPN had linkage groups for each SPC, but these were unsuccessful and it was decided to create pillar working groups, for each pillar. These pillar working groups were places where the Representatives from each SPC, could share skills, offer support, be a place for feedback (and feed forward), and ultimately be a place where the Representatives of the future, could learn the tricks of the trade. Until now, these working groups are still forming, but if you would like to join one of the three pillar working groups, please get in touch today and we can add you to the whatsapp group, or the email list, or tell you about the next online meeting.
The PPN was set up to improve the quality of life, for the people who live, work, study and visit Dublin by assisting member groups to participate more, in local authority decision making. To this end, we have 20 Representatives, who are all desperate to represent you at committee level.
Please get in touch, and let them know how they can do that, better.