Irish Local Development Network
As of 1st January 2010, PLANET - The Partnerships Network, along with the Community Partnerships Network, and Comhar Leader na hEireann, have merged to form the Irish Local Development Network.
The offices will be based in Dublin, and a website for the new organisation will be available shortly.
Planet - the Partnerships Network
Planet
PLANET - the Partnerships Network, (until 31st December 2009) was the representative voice of the 38 area-based Partnerships (now 53 Local Development Companies) in Ireland, who work to promote social inclusion through the development of disadvantaged areas and communities.
These Local Development Companies are funded via the National Development Plan through the Department of Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs, Pobal (formerly ADM), and other sources. A registered Co-operative, PLANET was an independent network, financed entirely by its members.
The purpose of PLANET was to:
- Organise structured opportunities for our members to learn from and share with others;
- Lobby policy makers and decision makers on common critical issues;
- Provide our members with expert support services that are more effectively and efficiently provided at national level.
How we did it:
The work of the Network was supported by a number of national Policy Groups involving PLANET members from Partnership boards/ sub-committees and Partnership personnel.
These Policy Groups addressed common concerns that were shared among members in the area of enterprise; labour market initiatives; community development; childcare; education and training. Their function was to develop PLANET policy based on the practical experience of members, working at the local level, in an effort to develop disadvantaged areas and communities.
The Partnerships Network was run by a voluntary Management Committee, comprising of Chairs and Managers of Partnerships Companies and is assisted in this by a full-time office with a Co-ordinator and Administration and Development Officer.