Gerry Finn, Director
Western Regional Development Conference
Ballaghaderreen 17.07.2015
NWRA Est. January 2015Local Government Reform Act 2014
8 County RegionNorth: 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 & WesternRegional Operational
Programme2014 – 2020
(Managed by NWRA)
Priority Axis EU Support
National Support
Total Funding
1. Strengthening RTDI €52m €52m 104m
2. Improving ICT Infrastructure €45m €45m 90m
3. Supporting, Promoting & Capacity Development of SMEs
€29m €29m 58m
4. Improve Energy Efficiency via supports to the Low Carbon
Economy
€18m 418m 36m
5. Support Integrated Urban Development
€14m €14m 28m
6. Technical Assistance €2m €2m 4m
Total €160m €160m €320m
Specific ObjectivesTo 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 ObjectiveTo increase the provision of fibre
optic links to all un-served villages & settlements in the
BMW Region (523 identified in mapping exercise)
ActionA 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 ObjectivesGrow 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 ObjectivesTo 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 ProjectsCross-Border Economic Development
Innovation Tech-TransferMarine Economy
Medical Technology Regional Airports
Renewable Energy Tourism
Planning/TransportDigital Agenda
Project Examples:Focus - Regional Airports
3 Year ProjectFunding Approved
Ireland WestKnock Airport
+ Donegal Airport
Project Examples:Focus – Technology Transfer
Project Name: HEISME3 Year Project in Development
(+ Chambers of Commerce)
Develop CUA Members Capability toRespond to Needs of Local Enterprise
Project Examples:Focus – Medical Technology
Partners: NWRA, NUIG, UL, GMIT, AIT, IT SligoChallenge: Respond to World Class Med-Tech
Cluster R&D NeedsSolution: Agreed Programme in Place for 3
Years – Now Fully Supported by EI
1. Regional Action Plan for Jobs2. Strengthening of Regional Assemblies
3. New National Planning Framework4. Regional Clustering Policy for 3rd Level
5. IDA’s Regional Strategy6. Regional Skills Forum
Regional Development on the Government Agenda
Challenges Remain to Ensure Real Regional & Rural Development