Gerry Finn, Director Western Regional Development Conference Ballaghaderreen

NWRA Est. January 2015 Local Government Reform Act County Region North: Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, Sligo West: Galway, Mayo Roscommon

3 Regional Assembly Areas

1.Economic Development:- Regional Planning & Economic Strategies 2. Linking Local Economic Development + Regional & National Planning: – Oversight of Local Economic & Community Plans + New Regional Economic Fora Stronger Role for Regional Assemblies in:

3. Supporting Balanced Regional Development via EU Funding:- Mgt of EU Regional Development Programmes + Securing EU Funding for Specific Regional Projects 4. Oversight of Local Authorities:- National Oversight & Audit Commission Stronger Role for Regional Assemblies in:

Border, Midland & Western Regional Operational Programme 2014 – 2020 (Managed by NWRA)

Priority Axis EU Support National Support Total Funding 1. Strengthening RTDI €52m 104m 2. Improving ICT Infrastructure €45m 90m 3. Supporting, Promoting & Capacity Development of SMEs €29m 58m 4. Improve Energy Efficiency via supports to the Low Carbon Economy €18m418m36m 5. Support Integrated Urban Development €14m 28m 6. Technical Assistance €2m 4m Total €160m €320m

Specific Objectives To increase the level of research taking place in the BMW Region, with industry engagement & increase the number of companies undertaking R&D in the BMW Region Actions SFI Research Centre Programmes SFI Spokes Programme SFI Investigators Programme Marine Research Programme EI Commercialisation Fund EI Innovation Partnership Programme EI Industry R&D Fund Priority 1: Strengthening RTDI (€104m)

Specific Objective To increase the provision of fibre optic links to all un-served villages & settlements in the BMW Region (523 identified in mapping exercise) Action A targeted State led investment providing high speed (>30Mbps) broadband infrastructure in those areas that will not be served by the commercial sector. Priority 2: ICT (€90m)

Specific Objectives Grow a cohort of entrepreneurs in order to increase employment in supported enterprises & the number of established SMEs in the BMW Region Actions Support for innovative and growth oriented micro-enterprise business start-ups and expansions through the newly created Local Enterprise Offices New Frontiers Programme A range of enterprise support schemes operated by Enterprise Ireland in the BMW Region Priority 3: SME Competitiveness (€58m)

Specific Objectives To improve energy efficiency in low income households & in the social housing stock Actions Social Housing Insulation Retrofit Retrofitting of vacant social housing Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme Priority 4: Low Carbon Economy (€36m)

Specific Objective To support integrated regeneration initiatives in selected urban centres that will revitalise the urban centres and address economic, environmental and social challenges Actions Support will be available for actions which will contribute to the revitalisation of areas within the selected urban centres and promote sustainable urban transport Priority 5: Sustainable Urban Development (€28m)

3. Support NWRA Strategy for EU Funding for Specific Regional Projects Cross-Border Economic Development Innovation Tech-Transfer Marine Economy Medical Technology Regional Airports Renewable Energy Tourism Planning/Transport Digital Agenda

Project Examples: Focus - Regional Airports 3 Year Project Funding Approved Ireland West Knock Airport + Donegal Airport

Project Examples: Focus – Technology Transfer Project Name: HEISME 3 Year Project in Development (+ Chambers of Commerce) Develop CUA Members Capability to Respond to Needs of Local Enterprise

Project Examples: Focus – Medical Technology Partners: NWRA, NUIG, UL, GMIT, AIT, IT Sligo Challenge: Respond to World Class Med-Tech Cluster R&D Needs Solution: Agreed Programme in Place for 3 Years – Now Fully Supported by EI

1.Regional Action Plan for Jobs 2. Strengthening of Regional Assemblies 3. New National Planning Framework 4. Regional Clustering Policy for 3 rd Level 5. IDA’s Regional Strategy 6. Regional Skills Forum Regional Development on the Government Agenda Challenges Remain to Ensure Real Regional & Rural Development

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