National INTERREG Information Day Tullamore 11th June 2015 The Ireland Wales Co-operation Programme Mike Pollard – Head of ETC Unit Welsh European Funding Office – Welsh Government

WEFO – Who are we? Part of Welsh Government – manage delivery of Structural Funds in Wales West Wales and the Valleys & East Wales programmes (ERDF/ESF) Four Programmes – some £2 billion for 2014-2020 Supporting economic growth and jobs through: Research and innovation Business finance ICT and Transport connectivity Energy Helping people into work and training. ETC – Ireland Wales/Atlantic Area/North-West Europe/EU 28 programmes – Managing Authority for Ireland Wales Programme

Structural Funds in Wales EU funds Total Investment West Wales & Valleys East Wales Ireland/Wales Co-operation £1.604bn £2.08bn £325m £488m £63m £76m Provisional Figures subject to approval by EC. Calculated using a planning rate of 1.25

Ireland Wales Co-operation Programme Timelines Programme developed in partnership - Tri-lateral group WEFO/SRA/DPER Drafting/ Ex-ante evaluation Late 2013/2014 Discussions on MA – announcement March 2014 Financial allocations – UK and IE June 2014 Formal consultation June - July 2014 Submission of CP September 2014 Negotiations /re-submission December 2014 Formal approval February 2015

Ireland Wales Co-operation Programme

Ireland Wales Co-operation Programme Policy context Socio-economic analysis Identification of needs, challenges and opportunities within cross-border region EU2020 Strategy UK/IE Partnership agreements Fit with national policies – Wales and Ireland Lessons learned

Ireland Wales Co-operation Programme Vision To provide the framework for organisations in the cross-border area to actively co-operate – to address challenges and shared priorities of common interest on both sides of the Irish Sea – thereby contributing and adding value to the economic and sustainable development priorities of Ireland and Wales

PROGRAMME INTERVENTION LOGIC Ireland Wales Co-operation Programme PROGRAMME INTERVENTION LOGIC Specific objective Situation Needs Change Expected result Result indicator Output indicators Actions Objectives Results Outputs PROJECTS

Ireland Wales Co-operation Programme Identification of six main challenges Utilising the potential of the Irish Sea Improving knowledge flow Improving SMEs’ innovative capabilities Vulnerability to the impacts of climate change Using natural and cultural heritage and resources to drive economic growth Economic and social cohesion

Ireland Wales Co-operation Programme Strategy – some overarching principles Focus on shared priorities which provide the greatest added value Focus on economic development and jobs and growth Projects should be genuinely cross-border seeking solutions to shared challenges Should strive for tangible results and maximum impact Targeting of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth

Ireland Wales Co-operation Programme Strategy Concentration of resources – more focused intervention Assists the development of quality projects Programme can act as an enabler and innovator Integration – complementarity with other ESI Funds Results focus - more emphasis on results orientation and measuring success - achieving real value – economy and society

Ireland Wales Co-operation Programme Focus Three Priority Axes and Specific Objectives Simplified approach – relevance to challenges, needs of the cross-border area, financial capacity of programme and potential for most impact Alignment with strategic priorities of Welsh and Irish governments and relevance to the maritime nature of the cross-border area

Ireland Wales Co-operation Programme Priority Axes PA 1 – Cross-border Innovation PA 2 – Adaptation of the Irish Sea and coastal communities to climate change PA 3 – Cultural and Natural resources and heritage

Ireland Wales Co-operation Programme Grant Rate: up to 80% of eligible costs

Ireland Wales Co-operation Programme Types of co-operation The establishment or development of a network, co-operation platform, portal or strategy The transfer or adoption of knowledge, expertise, technologies or best practice The enabling or paving the way for investment in the design, development, testing or delivery of new processes, products, studies or services (e.g. pilot actions, demonstration models etc.)

Ireland Wales Co-operation Programme Indicative activities – PA 1 Transfer of knowledge between academia and SMEs to support business innovation (in line with smart specialisation strategies) Piloting of initiatives to test innovative products, processes or services Cross-border demonstration, testing and marketing of new products, services, processes and systems Cross-border innovation clusters Development and transfer of models of best practice to assist internationalisation and competitiveness of SMEs/trade

Ireland Wales Co-operation Programme Indicative activities – PA 2 Providing mechanisms and platforms for sharing knowledge – climate change – risks and opportunities Research on climate change impacts on Irish Sea and coastal communities Development of assessment tools Transfer of knowledge, expertise and best practice on adaptation measures Developing further knowledge and understanding of the Irish Sea environment including its bio-diversity, habitats and species and its vulnerability to climate change

Ireland Wales Co-operation Programme Indicative activities – PA 3 Cross-border promotion and development of business opportunities related to sustainable management of natural and cultural resources including niche tourist attractions Enhancing the coastal and marine environment to make the cross-border area a more attractive place to visit Promoting joint eco-tourism in coastal areas Joint branding and marketing of natural and cultural assets Utilising coastal and sea based environment to promote healthy living through outdoor activity Supporting cross-border entrepreneurial activity in SMEs in promoting maritime leisure, heritage and traditional cultural and creative industries along the coast

Ireland Wales Co-operation Programme State of Play First Programme Monitoring Committee (PMC) – Dublin 30th April 2015 Second meeting July 2015 – Communications and Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy Selection criteria for Programme agreed PMC – set up Programme Steering Committee (PSC) for project selection PSC – first meeting – July 2015 Programme now open for business Joint Secretariat (JS) & Ireland Wales Operations Officers (Development Officers) in place

Ireland Wales Co-operation Programme Implementation Open call for applications – no “timetabled” calls Pre-planning stage – first contact with JS /Operations Officers Completion of Operation Logic Table Submission to Technical Group Technical Group decision – progress to business planning stage Application stage – two Gateways – business plan and detailed planning stage PSC responsible for decisions on operations at both stages

Ireland Wales Co-operation Programme Guidance Link with Operations Officers essential Documents now available: Citizens’ summary – co-operation programme Implementation arrangements guidance Eligibility rules and guidance (draft) Under development - Wales Ireland Networking (WIN) project

Ireland Wales Co-operation Programme Joint Secretariat Team Linda Weaver – Carmarthen - Head of JS Operations (Development) Officers: Patrick Lilly – Carmarthen Roger Seddon – Llandudno Junction Siobhan Rudden – Waterford Breda Curran – Waterford

@irelandwales / @wefowales Ireland Wales Co-operation Programme - Guidance Get in touch: www.irelandwales.ie www.wefo.wales.gov.uk irelandwalescrossborderprogramme@wales.gsi.gov.uk ireland_wales@southernassembly.ie @irelandwales / @wefowales

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