Gerry Finn, Director Western Regional Development Conference Ballaghaderreen 17.07.2015.

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

Contact Us @

www.nwra.ie

info@nwra.ie