The Plenary is as set out in the PPN Handbook (2020) ;
The main decision making body of the PPN is the Plenary (i.e. all the independent Member Groups of the PPN) which should, unless in exceptional circumstances, meet at least twice a year to review how the PPN is working and to set the work agenda for the coming period.
The main role of the Plenary is to direct the operations of the PPN, to set overall PPN policy and procedures and to agree the annual Workplan and budget The elected Secretariat is responsible for the administration of the PPN between Plenary meetings. Subsets of the PPN such as Municipal District PPNs and Linkage / Thematic Groups also inform the process.

Dear PPN Members,

All member groups are invited to attend our Summer Plenary Meeting which will be held online via Teams. We strongly encourage all member groups to attend the Plenary. I

f you would like to submit a motion or get an item on the agenda please let me know by 21.07.2023.

Date: Tuesday, 1st August 2023

Time: 11am – 1pm

Online via Teams

Agenda:
Welcomes
Approval of reps
Approval of Documents
Motions
Updates from Secretariat
Updates from reps committees
Guest Speakers
AOB

Please click the link to register to attend:
https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/e0aaab58-d942-4a54-8627-689e4b0d8807@f917c0aa-006d-4d43-92d2-be552ee28f75

Dear PPN Members, 

Following on from our Climate Change & Biodiversity webinar there is a great deal of interest in reviving the pre-existing climate linkage group founded in 2020, The Green Recovery Working Group. A lot of work has gone into this linkage group so far with the Energy Master Plan project now well underway. We would like to get this group back up and running and feeding into the Climate Change & Biodiversity Strategic Policy Committee. 

We are holding a meeting on Tuesday 25th July at 7pm to discuss actions for our group.  

Proposed Agenda: 
•    Welcome & Introductions
•    PPN presentation
•    Climate Change & Biodiversity SPC - PPN Reps update
•    Discussion
•    Allocating group roles (chair/ vice chair)
•    Date of Next Meeting 
•    AOB

Everyone Welcome! Register for the event HERE.

Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are public locations which have been selected to receive high-speed connectivity as part of the National Broadband Plan. They were rolled out as part of the ‘Connected Communities Initiative’ between the Government, NBI and Vodafone. Galway County Council has 21 Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) which offer high-speed connectivity around the county, including BCPs on the islands of Inishbofin, Inishmore, Inishmaan and Inisheer.The BCPs are in areas such as community centres, schools, libraries, and sports clubs and deliver a host of opportunities. The range of services and facilities in BCPs vary throughout the county. 
An example of services and facilities available in some of the Broadband Connection Points include:
•    Remote working space
•    Meeting rooms for hire
•    Embracement of the digital society with digital skill initiatives/courses
•    eLearning for students and access to ‘Eduroam’ for third level students, it enables students to securely access their college/university internet.
•    Spaces available for arts, exhibitions and classes, fitness classes.
•    The Broadband Connection Points also offer a social aspect for members of the community to stay connected with family and friends.

For a full list of broadband connection points, please see the following link: 
https://opendata-galwaycoco.hub.arcgis.com/datasets/galwaycoco::broadband-connection-points-live/explore?location=53.237167%2C-8.753115%2C11.74  

Should you have any questions on any of the BCPs please email Donna Byrne, Broadband Support Officer, Galway County Council email: dbyrne@galwaycoco.ie 

Galway Connected Communities
Broadband Connection Points Initiative
Part of the National Broadband Plan    Pobail Nasctha na Gaillimhe
Tionscnamh Pointí Nasctha Leathanbhanda
Cuid den Phlean Náisiúnta Leathanbhanda
Is suíomhanna poiblí iad Pointí Nasctha Leathanbhanda (PNLanna) atá roghnaithe chun nascacht ardluais a fháil mar chuid den Phlean Náisiúnta Leathanbhanda. Cuireadh i bhfeidhm iad mar chuid den ‘Thionscnamh Pobail Nasctha’ idir an Rialtas, NBI agus Vodafone. Tá 21 Pointe Nasc Leathanbhanda (PNLanna) ag Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe a thairgeann nascacht ardluais ar fud an chontae, lena n-áirítear PNLanna ar na hoileáin Inis Bó Finne, Inis Mór, Inis Meáin agus Inis Oírr. Tá na PNLanna i réimsí mar ionaid phobail, scoileanna, leabharlanna agus clubanna spóirt agus cuireann siad a lán deiseanna ar fáil. Athraíonn an raon seirbhísí agus áiseanna sna PNLanna ar fud an chontae. 
I measc na seirbhísí agus na n-áiseanna atá ar fáil i gcuid de na Pointí Nasctha Leathanbhanda tá:
•    Spás cianoibre
•    Seomraí cruinnithe ar cíos
•    Glacadh leis an tsochaí dhigiteach le tionscnaimh/cúrsaí scileanna digiteacha
•    Trí ríomhfhoghlaim do mhic léinn agus rochtain ar ‘Eduroam’ do mhic léinn tríú leibhéal, cuireann sé ar chumas mic léinn rochtain slán a dhéanamh ar idirlíon a gcoláiste/ollscoile.
•    Spásanna ar fáil do na healaíona, taispeántais agus ranganna, ranganna aclaíochta.
•    Cuireann na Pointí Nasctha Leathanbhanda gné sóisialta ar fáil freisin do bhaill an phobail chun fanacht i dteagmháil lena dteaghlach agus lena gcairde.

Chun liosta iomlán de na pointí nasctha leathanbhanda a fháil, féach an nasc seo a leanas le do thoil: 
https://opendata-galwaycoco.hub.arcgis.com/datasets/galwaycoco::broadband-connection-points-live/explore?location=53.237167%2C-8.753115%2C11.74 

Má tá aon cheist agat faoi aon cheann de na PNLanna seol ríomhphost le do thoil chuig Donna Byrne, Oifigeach Tacaíochta Leathanbhanda, Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe: dbyrne@galwaycoco.ie

The July Ordinary Meeting of Plenary Council will be held on Monday, 24th July 2023 at 11a.m. in the Council Chamber. 

"The Committee responsible for the conversation of the Old School at Gardenfield, Tuam, Co Galway have had a busy year. Previous to our fund-raising drive we had a great turnout for Santa’s Visit. Nollaig Na MBAN was enjoyed by a large enthusiastic bunch of local ladies. 
Last year we received grant aid under the Community Centre Scheme and the Heritage Council.
Added to this we raised €25,000 approximately and with the aid of many hours of voluntary  
Labour have succeeded in re-roofing, re-wiring the building and installing new windows and doors. 
Our current major difficulty is we now have a perfect Community Centre - a toilet and kitchen that is in need of considerable modernisation but no money. We have applied for ClAR funding and we keep hoping. 
While the building continues to challenge, we have also embarked on the creation of an oral and written history of the area. We had a zoom meeting with Marie Mannion, Heritage Council, Galway Co.Co. who was challenging, informative and inspiring. 
We have recorded the memories of past students of the Old School and are now delving into a bigger historical picture of the area.
We are also currently in consultation with the people in the catchment area with a view to planning a project of events which will respond to the expressed interest of the potential users of the facility.
- Michael Mannion, Chairman."

Bat Conservation Ireland piloted the Daubenton’s Bat Waterway Survey based on the Bat Conservation Trust (UK) methodology in 2005. The survey has been continued annually in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland since 2006.  The aim is to assess levels of activity of Daubenton’s bat. Trend information from 2006-2019 indicates that species is currently stable.

To-date hundreds of volunteer teams have participated in this survey across the island surveying their local river, canal and channels. Over 600 waterway sites have been surveyed since 2006 and the map below shows the location of all of these 1km waterway sites.

Daubenton’s bats fly close to water and are easy to identify. With a little training, you can identify and count Daubenton’s bats over a waterway near you. Daubenton’s bat is easy to see because it flies typically within 30cm of the water surface, often picking up insects from the water. It usually flies back and forth along a regular flight path. If you are willing to spend a couple of summer evenings in the month of August walking along a river or canal while participating in important wildlife conservation work then this project is ideal for you!

Bat Conservation Ireland are running a series of online workshops over the next few weeks for people interested in getting involved. You will be supplied with maps and recording sheets (either by post or email). Each volunteer uses his/her own torch and bat detector. There will, however, be a number of bat detectors available for volunteers who don’t have one. 

For more information: All Ireland Daubenton’s Bat Waterways Survey - Bat Conservation Ireland and see poster for training dates.

Three Galway projects have secured seventy thousand euro under this year’s Peatlands Community Engagement Scheme. Galway Bay FM Newsroom – Read more HERE.

Read the latest newsletter from the Irish Environmental Network HERE

This module would interest anyone who would like to gain a better understanding of the importance of biodiversity for the natural environment.
Participants will explore:
• the role of biodiversity and common threats at genetic, specific and ecosystem levels
• the effects of human activities on the environment to include exhaustion of natural resources, climate change, habitat destruction, pollution, loss of biodiversity and invasive alien species.
• the role of water quality including organic pollution, eutrophication, toxic pollution and the hydrological cycle
• the main provisions of the Wildlife Act.
This module is part of the QQI level 5 major award: Horticulture 5M2586.
Read More HERE

For resources to help you design your National Heritage Week event/project, click HERE. 

Age Friendly Newsletter | Friday 9th June 2023.
All Age Friendly Ireland newsletters are available on their website www.agefriendlyireland.ie

Please submit news items one week before the end of each month, for the following month's Newsletter.