Category: EMRA News - Page 4 - Eastern & Midland Regional Assembly

Wooden trail with text overlay announcing project selected

Projects Selected for EU JTF Community and Enterprise Grants

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan TD, today has announced that 15 sustainability-focused projects in the Midlands will receive grants under the EU Just Transition Fund (EU JTF) programme, co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union.

The projects, put forward by voluntary and not-for-profit organisations, as well as micro and small to medium sized enterprises, have been awarded grant funding of between €50,000 and €300,000 to invest in ideas from the community that create employment and diversify the local economy of the Midlands region. The grants will enable projects to develop initiatives such as innovation and community hubs, green energy projects and heritage initiatives.

The total amount committed to selected projects from the EU Just Transition Fund is now nearly €54 million, following the recent announcement of projects selected through the EU JTF Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking scheme run by Faílte Ireland and the EU JTF Local and Regional Economic Strategy Support Scheme run by Pobal. Further project announcements are expected shortly.

Commenting on the projects approved for funding under the scheme, Minister Ryan stated:

“Small-to-medium enterprises and local community organisations are the life blood of a region, creating jobs, helping to diversify the economy and generating ideas and innovation. This funding will empower local organisations to respond to Ireland’s shift to a low-carbon economy, while providing economic and social benefit at a local level for the individuals most impacted by this transition”.

Barbara Nolan, Head of the European Commission Representation in Ireland, said:

“Local projects are key to ensuring that the EU Green Deal has a real impact on the ground. The Just Transition Fund will support Ireland’s Midlands to progress towards a more sustainable economy with local communities in the driving seat.”

Clare Bannon, Acting Director of the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly (EMRA), said:

“EMRA welcomes the announcement of selected projects that have been envisioned and created by the local community in the wider Midlands area. Bringing direct financial support to bottom-up ideas not only drives the innovative capacity of the entire region but also fosters vibrant placemaking that enriches the quality of life for its residents. This is crucial for enabling sustainable and inclusive regional development that leaves no one behind.”

Pobal CEO, Anna Shakespeare commented:

“We in Pobal look forward to continuing to collaborate with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and the Eastern & Midland Regional Assembly on this EU Just Transition Fund scheme to support small organisations to support the decarbonsiation of the Midlands. By investing in these organisations, communities and enterprises will be supported to build skills, generate jobs, enhance livelihoods and diversify the economy. We look forward also to engaging with these Midland communities as they work to contribute to the transition to a low carbon economy.”

The approved projects will deliver significant benefits to the region, including:

An innovative series of initiatives to develop the bioeconomy sector;
Training and upskilling in sustainable sectors for communities previously reliant on peat production;
The preservation, repurposing and refurbishment of local infrastructure and heritage assets for use as enterprise space;
Innovation in green technology, including renewable energy and sustainable energy practices;
Circular economy initiatives to support sustainable production and consumption of goods and services.

Projects have been selected through a competitive process under the EU Just Transition Fund’s Community and Enterprise Grants Scheme, which is the second call within the broader Local and Regional Economic Strategies Support Scheme. This current announcement of projects builds upon the previous selection of projects announced on 26 April 2024, in which 15 other projects from the midlands received grants totalling €18 million.

The scheme was developed through close collaboration between the Department and the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly (EMRA), the Managing Authority for the EU Just Transition Fund, and is being administered through Pobal. It seeks to support the implementation of bottom-up local and regional strategies. Successful projects were required to demonstrate close alignment with locally-led Regional Enterprise Plans (REPs) and Local Economic and Community Plans (LECPs).

List of Selected Projects

Project Name	Organisation	Location	Funding Amount
Strawchip	Strawchip Ltd	Ballycullane	€300,000
CycleUp	Roscommon Women’s Network	Castlerea	€188,649
Derrymore Sphagnum Farm	Derrymore Peat Ltd.	Longford	€300,000
Ecochip Energy	Ecochip Energy Ltd.	Castlepollard	€300,000
Ethica Planet – Mycelium	Ethica Planet Foods Ltd	Tullamore	€250,000
Waste Substrate Recycling	Kelly’s Nursery Ltd	Mullingar	€300,000
Renewables Training Delivery	SCT Consultancy Limited	Thurles	€207,735
Offshore Piling Noise Reduction System	Justin Cunningham Limited	Cashel	€299,838
Training Centre and Office	All About Trees Ltd	Highfield	€296,774
Poet’s Cottage Community Café	Camross Heritage Ltd	Camross	€256,403
EV Technician Training	Primo Coachworks Ltd	Ferbane	€172,578
Insulation Retrofit Training/Staff	Energy Communities Tipperary Cooperative, Company Limited by Guarantee	Nenagh	€172,152
Peatlands for Prosperity	Green Restoration Ireland Cooperative Society Ltd	Offaly	€299,054
Waste Plastic Disposal Facility	Alister Future Technologies	Longford	€300,000
The Social Enterprise Exchange	Cluster Centre Platform Ltd	Athlone (Roscommon)	€129,999

EMRA Director, Cathaoirleach, and CE Laois

First meeting of the new Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly

The first meeting of the new Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly took place in the Council Chamber, Dún-Laoghaire Rathdown County Council on Friday 12th July 2024. The meeting marks the start of a new five-year term for the Regional Assembly following the recent local elections.

Cllr Fitzgerald, Joan Martin and Clare Bannon

Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald, Joan Martin and Clare Bannon stand for photo at the first meeting of the Regional Assembly 2024-2029 term

The meeting brought together representatives from every local authority in the region (Dublin City, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal, Kildare, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, South Dublin, Westmeath, Wicklow). The Assembly is made up of 39 Members comprised of elected officials nominated by their constituent local authorities to be part of the Assembly and members from the Irish delegation to the Committee of the Regions, who are nominated by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. 22 Members are completely new to the Assembly, 17 are returning from the last term. The regional assembly is the regional tier of government in Ireland and has responsibility for balanced reginal spatial and economic planning and for EU funded programmes.

On this occasion, Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald of Laois County Council was elected as Cathaoirleach of the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly for 2024-2025. Additionally, Cllr David Healy was elected as Leás-Cathaoirleach for 2024-2025.

On the agenda for the meeting, minutes from the previous meeting on 10th May were adopted. An overview presentation of the Regional Assembly’s work and responsibilities was provided bringing all new and existing members up to speed. Also covered as points at the meeting were nominations to external bodies, planning items, a programme of works quarter 2 update, a cohesion alliance joint call and a correspondence piece.

Lastly, the meeting was also the last meeting for Joan Martin, Chief Executive of Louth County Council and designated Chief Executive of the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly. We thank her for all her dedication to the Assembly over the years.

Congratulating the new Cathaoirleach and Leás-Chathaoirleach, Acting Director of the Assembly, Clare Bannon said that she and all the staff in the Assembly look forward to working with them and the new Assembly Members over the coming years.

See the full list of Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly members on our Members page.

EMRA elected Members 2024-2029 and members of staff in Dun Laoghaire Council Chambers, 12 July 2024

EU Just Transition Fund highlighted at the National Recovery and Resilience Plan annual event

EU JTF attends the annual event for the National Recovery and Resilience Plan on 11 July 2024.

Vista at Clonmacnoise with text overlay announcing EU JTF projects selected

Over €32million in investment grants announced for regenerative tourism projects in Midlands

22 projects to receive €27.1million investment grant-aid in first round of investment approval*.
Bord na Móna to develop up to 79 km* of trails across the region, subject to planning consents and funding approval.
85 tourism businesses will participate in a €5.5million Digital Transformation Programme.
Funding scheme for Private and Community SMEs to close for expressions of interest on 30th June 2024.

Today [19 June 2024] Fáilte Ireland has announced the first round of approved investment grants for projects under the EU Just Transition Fund which are being delivered as part of its Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme 2023-2026, co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the EU.

22 projects (listed below) have been approved for €27.1million investment under the scheme which include walking and cycling trails on former industrial peatlands, and investment in Local Authority and State Agency tourism and visitor experience projects. Further projects that are still in the evaluation pipeline are expected to be announced in the coming weeks and months. Projects span three development categories, including feasibility and masterplans; product design and planning; and delivery and construction.

Fáilte Ireland is also announcing the inclusion of up to 85 tourism enterprises in its EU Just Transition Digital Transformation Programme which is valued at up to €5.5million. A funding scheme for Private and Community SMEs to provide new and enhanced visitor experiences and low-carbon tourist accommodation remains open for expressions of interest until 30th June 2024, and announcements will be made on these awards later in the year.

Following the announcement of the first projects, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin TD, said:

“I am pleased to see the first announcement of investment in projects by Fáilte Ireland under the EU Just Transition Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme. These projects mark the first steps in the regenerative tourism development journey in the Midlands, and we are pleased to work with our colleagues in the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications to deliver on government climate action goals through the EU Just Transition Fund. The projects funded support our move as a nation towards a low-carbon economy, in line with the Programme for Government commitment for the development of a Sustainable Tourism Policy, which will support sustainable economic development and job creation. We’re already seeing a significant impact in the Midlands as all counties within the region have been represented across these approved investments in projects, with more to come.”

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan TD said: “Today marks a significant milestone in the green transition as Fáilte Ireland announces the first projects under the EU Just Transition Fund Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme targeted at the Midlands Region. This initiative, co-funded by the Government and the European Union not only provides new employment and economic opportunities for communities and businesses in the Midlands but also helps protect biodiversity, supporting a greener, more sustainable, and low-carbon future. I look forward to the delivery of these projects and to their positive impact on the Midlands Region.”

Head of the European Commission Representation in Ireland Barbara Nolan added:

“Ireland can be at the forefront of the EU’s efforts to diversify its economy towards greener and more progressive industries, helping to achieve the EU’s Green Deal goals. One of the objectives of the EU’s Just Transition Fund is to support Ireland’s Midlands to further develop the potential of the local economy. Investing in sustainable tourism will not only generate local jobs but is also a step further in positioning the Midlands as an attractive tourist destination in the heart of Ireland.”

CEO of Fáilte Ireland, Paul Kelly said:

“Today, we are pleased to announce our initial investment grants for projects under our Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking scheme, which is just the beginning of our EU Just Transition journey for Ireland’s Midlands.

These transformative projects, spanning the entire region, will create more reasons for domestic and international tourists to visit Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands and Ireland’s Ancient East, generating new opportunities for employment, empowering local businesses, and enhancing local communities, while strengthening the appeal of the Midlands as a tourist destination for generations to come. With further investment in projects to be announced over the coming months, this is a very exciting time for the Midlands.

We look forward to further collaboration with local tourism businesses and communities, the Eastern and Midland Regional Authority (EMRA), Bord na Móna, Local Authorities, and our strategic partners including the Office of Public Works, the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage, Waterways Ireland, and Coillte to deliver these projects and more under this scheme across the next two years.”

Acting Director of the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly (EMRA) Clare Bannon said:

“EMRA, as the Managing Authority of the EU Just Transition Fund programme, welcomes the announcement of this group of projects that underline the significant opportunities arising from investment in tourism for bolstering placemaking through enhanced amenities and capacity building. Tourism plays a pivotal role in diversifying income streams and enhancing employment prospects that are intricately tied to our local assets. By investing in tourism, we not only open doors to increased recreational activities but also contribute to the preservation of environmental quality, fostering sustainable growth and prosperity for our community.”

Trail Development Scheme

As a beneficiary of the Trail Development element of the Scheme, Bord na Móna has been awarded €3.6million towards the creation of up to 79km* of new walking and cycling trails, across suitable parts of the Bord na Móna landbank in the following areas:

Longford – between Lanesborough and Cloondara,
Roscommon – between Termonbarry and Roosky,
Westmeath – between Athlone and Ballinahown,
Offaly East – between Grand Canal Greenway and Mount Lucas
Offaly West – around Clonmacnoise, Ballinahown and Lough Boora
Tipperary – between Littleton/Lough Doire Bhuile

The trail development network focuses on developing and repurposing former industrial peatlands to support a network of universally accessible cyclable and walkable trails that will be to firmly establish the Midlands as a compelling destination for outdoor activities, supporting the creation of new jobs in ancillary and related activities, connecting back into towns and villages. Following the successful completion of the planning process for these trails, Bord na Móna will apply for funding for their construction.

Welcoming the announcement, Head of Land & Habitats at Bord na Móna, Ger Breen said:

“Bord na Móna is pleased to be a beneficiary of Fáilte Ireland’s Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme. The sites selected for these trails will deliver benefits for the wider community through developing new trails across the Bord na Móna landbank as well as connecting up existing trails as part of the trail development network. This will give the local community as well as visitors better connectivity between the trails and the surrounding towns, villages, visitor experiences and future developments. We look forward to working with our partners in Fáilte Ireland, and the Local Authorities in Offaly, Longford, Roscommon, Westmeath and Tipperary in delivering these trails.”

Local Authority and State Agency Schemes

Working closely with the 8 Local Authorities and state agencies including the OPW, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Housing, Waterways Ireland and Coillte, Fáilte Ireland has approved investment for €23.5million to deliver improved tourism infrastructure, facilities and visitor experiences, including those that can be leveraged by the private and community sectors.

The projects focus on the areas of Visitor Experience Improvement, Digital Transformation, Digital User Experience, Accessibility and Sustainability and Regenerative Tourism.

The first projects approved for investment under this Scheme are below, with further projects expected to be announced in the coming weeks:

Project and Location	Project Description	Lead Organisation	Funding Amount
Kildare: Emily Square Urban Renewal	Redevelopment and regeneration of Emily Square at the heart of Athy Town	Kildare County Council	€2,735,425
Kildare: Donadea Forest Park	Creation of a visitor masterplan for the Forest Park	Coillte	€67,650
Laois: Rock of Dunamase	Delivery of enhancements to the visitor experience at the Rock of Dunamase thorough delivery of carpark, facilities, and interpretation	Laois County Council	€1,796,592
Laois: Emo Court	Options study for the development of Emo Court and Estate	Office of Public Works	€187,500
Westmeath: Athlone Castle	Delivery of interpretation, facilities, and visitor journey enhancements throughout Athlone Castle	Westmeath County Council	€3,226,770
Westmeath: Athlone Town Centre	Detailed design and planning of Boardwalk and Outdoor Urban Swimming Pool in Athlone Town Centre	Westmeath County Council	€561,803
Westmeath: Belvedere House, Gardens and Park	Visitor experience masterplan development for Belvedere House, Gardens and Park	Westmeath County Council	€187,500
Longford, Westmeath, and Kildare: Royal Canal Greenway	Delivery of the Royal Canal Greenway visitor experience development, including, Greenway animation and interpretation	Waterways Ireland	€487,500
Tipperary: Castle Street, Roscrea	Detailed design and planning for the regeneration of Castle Street	Tipperary County Council	€581,687
Tipperary: Carrick-on-Suir Riverside Regeneration	Feasibility, concept development and detailed design and planning to link the town centre with the riverside enhancing the visitor experience.	Tipperary County Council	€185,027
Tipperary: Roscrea Castle	Delivery of interpretation upgrade and introduction of new exhibitions within Roscrea Castle, Damer House, Heritage Centre, and landscaping works to the castle courtyard and garden	Office of Public Works	€2,976,548
Galway: Battle of Aughrim Visitor Centre	Feasibility, concept development and detailed design for the enhancement of the visitor experience	Galway County Council	€103,200
Longford: Clondra to Termonbarry cycleway scheme	Feasibility to assess linking Clondra and Termonbarry through an off-road cyclepath	Longford County Council	€84,000
Longford: Clondra Village Enhancements	Delivery of enhancements to the public realm and outdoor visitor facilities in Clondra village and provide better connection with neighbouring Termonbarry through safer cycling and walking routes.	Longford County Council	€370,000
Longford: Lanesborough Amphitheatre	Detailed design and planning for the development of Lanesborough Amphitheatre	Longford County Council	€150,000
Longford: Corlea Iron Age Roadway & Visitor Centre	Options study to improve the visitor experience at Corlea Visitor Centre including conservation and presentation options for the Iron Age Roadway	Office of Public Works	€262,500
Offaly: Shannonbridge Plaza and Shannon Callows Reserve Walkway	Detailed design and planning for a central plaza and walkway	Offaly County Council	€218,275
Offaly: Shannonbridge Marina	Expansion of the capacity of the marina at Shannonbridge.	Waterways Ireland	€150,000
Offaly: Birr Destination Town Plus	Delivery of enhanced paving at William Street improving the linkages to the Castle Demesne and town centre	Offaly County Council	€188,183
Offaly: Clonmacnoise	Redevelopment of the visitor centre at Clonmacnoise, including refurbishment and extension of buildings to enhance the experience for visitors	Office of Public Works	€7,800,000
Roscommon: Lough Key Forest Park	Detailed design and planning for increased capacity and range of activities to realise ambitious strategy and masterplan objectives for Lough Key Forest Park	Coillte in partnership with Roscommon County Council	€1,185,712

Private and Community SME Scheme

The projects focus on the areas of Visitor Experience Improvement, Digital Transformation, Digital User Experience, Accessibility and Sustainability and Regenerative Tourism.

The first projects approved for investment under this Scheme are below, with further projects expected to be announced in the coming weeks:

Private and Community SME Scheme

The Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme also provides a significant fund of up to €17million for projects that will be delivered by private and community SMEs and micro enterprises operating within the EU Just Transition Territory**.

Over €5million is being announced today as part of the Digital Transformation programme element of the scheme which will be shared by up to 85 tourism enterprises spread across all eight counties in the EU Just Transition Territory. This funding will enable these enterprises to participate in a two-year programme which will transform their digital presence and digital capabilities.

The closing date for Expressions of Interest for the Private and Community SME element of this scheme is Sunday 30th June 2024 at 12 noon. Funding for this scheme is limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. A dedicated Tourism Activator, a new role that has been developed and funded as part of this EU Just Transition scheme, is in place in each county to support applicants to develop their applications. Applicants can find more information and complete an Expression of Interest at www.failteireland.ie.

Today’s announcement adds to other schemes already funded under Fáilte Ireland’s EU Just Transition Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme, including the recently launched Tourism Learning Network Programme. This programme provides a broad range of capability building, peer networking and shared learning opportunities, both in person and online, including real life best practice case studies from Ireland and internationally, to a mix of 46 businesses across the region, some of whom are new to tourism. Over 60 business owners and their staff from these micro enterprises, as part of the programme’s first intake, are actively engaged in various learning pillars including: The Business of Tourism; Business for Growth; Access and Inclusion; Sustainability and Regenerative Tourism. There will be a further intake for the Tourism Learning Network Programme later in 2024, with Expressions of Interest re-opening in the Autumn.

*All projects are subject to grant agreement, planning permission and funding availability

Local projects in the Midlands to receive grants amounting to €18 million under EU Just Transition Fund programme

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan TD, today announced the 15 projects in the Midlands that will receive grant awards amounting to €18 million from the EU Just Transition Fund (JTF) programme.

All of the awarded projects will invest in local communities, to create employment and to diversify the local economy of the Midlands region. They range from innovation and community hubs to a range of education and training programmes, and from green energy projects to heritage initiatives.

Thirteen projects, led by, or with strong involvement from, local authorities have been awarded grant funding of between €200,000 and €1 million to deliver actions in line with their Local Economic and Community Plans in the Midlands. The approved projects will deliver significant benefits to the region, including:

the upskilling and training of communities in the territory to participate in the low carbon economy;
the preservation, repurposing and refurbishment of local infrastructure and heritage assets for use as enterprise space;
supporting green technologies, including renewable energy and sustainable energy practices.

Two further strategic flagship projects supporting the delivery of the Regional Enterprise Plans have been approved for total funding of over €8 million:

The Munster Technological University (MTU), in partnership with Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) and the University of Limerick (UL) will deliver education and training opportunities for the economic development and environmental sustainability of the Midlands region.
The Midlands Local Authorities (Laois, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath) are allocating dedicated resources to realise sectoral ambitions in line with the objectives for the region’s Regional Enterprise Plan, including the Midland pathway to transition to a net-zero economy, Midlands Ireland Placemaking Programme and the Midlands Ireland Regional Food and Drink Strategy.

Projects have been selected through a competitive process under the EU Just Transition Fund Local and Regional Economic Strategies Support Scheme, administered by Pobal on behalf of the Department, which seeks to support the implementation of bottom-up local and regional strategies. Successful projects needed to demonstrate close alignment with locally-led Regional Enterprise Plans (REPs) and Local Economic and Community Plans (LECPs).

Commenting on the projects approved for funding under the scheme, Minister Ryan stated:

“It is imperative that communities and workers who are most affected by the shift to a carbon neutral future are provided with targeted supports to address the social and economic impact of the transition.

“The changes we need to make have to be just, ensuring that the needs of people and planet are supported. This scheme will help communities across the Midlands to maximise the opportunities and benefits of the green economy by harnessing and supporting the implementation of bottom-up local and regional strategies. This will help build new economic strength and identity for the region while also supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy.”

Clare Bannon, Acting Director of the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly (EMRA), said:

“I welcome the announcement today of the projects that will receive funding through the Local and Regional Economic Strategies Support Scheme under the EU Just Transition Fund (EU JTF). It is a significant milestone for the EU JTF Programme as this scheme is the first of its kind in Ireland in its approach to funding local and regional economic strategies, designed to put local authorities and communities at the centre of the delivery of the EU JTF in Ireland. These selected projects highlight the ingenuity and locally-conceived ideas that have the potential to make a lasting impact on the wider Midland region. We also extend our gratitude to all the applicants for their submissions, which have shown dedication to the opportunity that exists in the region.”

Councillor Kate Feeney, Cathaoirleach of the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly, remarked:

“The selection of these projects under the innovative EU JTF Local and Regional Economic Strategies Support Scheme is a transformative moment for the Irish Midlands. By bringing support directly from the EU to the local level where it is needed the most, the selected initiatives will foster growth and drives sustainable development for the communities in the region for years to come.”

Pobal CEO, Anna Shakespeare said:

“Pobal is delighted to be working with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly on the EU Just Transition Fund to support the implementation of these very exciting projects within the midlands. These diverse projects demonstrate a tangible investment in the development of local communities, building skills, generating employment and supporting the economic diversification of the midlands region as they transition to a low carbon economy. Pobal recognises the value of this fund and are proud to support it. We look forward to working with all stakeholder organisations in the region to make this scheme a success.”

Selected Projects

Details of the projects selected for funding under this scheme are listed below:

Project Name	Lead Organisation	County	Approved Funding Amount*
Athlone Smart Innovation and Co-working hub	Westmeath County Council, Technological University of the Shannon	Westmeath	€1,000,000
Ballaghaderreen Training, Upskilling and Community Hub	Roscommon County Council	Roscommon	€1,000,000
Biomethane Development Office	Tipperary County Council, Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) & the Irish Bioeconomy Foundation (IBF)	Tipperary	€993,011
Carbon Emission Reduction Training	Roscommon County Council	Roscommon	€569,037
Circular Economy Centre of Excellence	Longford County Council	Longford	€200,860
Computer Science in Every Secondary School in Co. Longford	Longford County Council	Longford	€841,290
Co-working Hub and Enterprise Centre	Westmeath County Council – Kinnegad	Westmeath	€1,000,000
Film Offaly Project	Offaly County Council	Offaly	€252,985
Junction 17 National Enterprise Park Development	Laois County Council	Laois	€1,000,000
Kilcormac Renewable Energy Centre of Excellence	Kilcormac Development Association	Offaly	€294,056
Manorhamilton Innovation and Development Community**	Future Cast	Roscommon	€793,970
Pre-Apprenticeship programme	Tipperary Education & Training Board	Tipperary	€999,791
Rathcrogan Farming/Cultural Heritage Scheme	Farming Rathcrogan Scheme Company	Roscommon	€886,634
Midlands Regional Enterprise Plan Pathway for Just Transition	Laois County Council	Regional	€3,992,882
ReSHAPE – Regional Skills Horizon And Pathways to Employment’ project	Munster Technological University	Regional	€4,154,602

*subject to grant-agreement

** Manorhamilton Innovation and Development Community will deliver this project in Co. Roscommon.

The Local and Regional Economic Strategies Support Scheme is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the EU Just Transition Fund programme 2021-2027 which supports the workers and communities most negatively impacted by the transition to a low carbon economy by supporting the development of sustainable and resilient communities in the Midlands.

This programme focuses its activities in the EU Just Transition Fund Territory, consisting of Laois, Longford, Offaly, Westmeath, Roscommon and the Municipal Districts of Ballinasloe (Co Galway), Athy, Clane-Maynooth, (Co Kildare) and Carrick-on-Suir and Thurles (Co Tipperary).

Successful projects will be delivered up to March 2026.

Further information on the scheme is available on the Pobal website.

“Regions in Focus” event

Councillors discuss options for enhanced Regional Government in Ireland at “Regions in Focus” event in Limerick.

Over 130 councillors from across the country assembled in Adare in February 2024 at the Association of Irish Regions annual gathering, “Regions in Focus,” to discuss and debate sub-national and regional government in Ireland. The event brought together Elected Members from Local Authorities across Ireland, senior public and civil servants from Ireland, Norway and Denmark as well policy analysts, academics and Government Ministers.

Minister Norma Foley TD spoke on the evolving role of regional government in Ireland. Minister of State Jack Chambers TD spoke on the opportunities for further balanced regional development in Ireland, strengthening communities, and delivering key transport infrastructure for economic development. Minister of State Kieran O’Donnell TD attended to launch THRIVE – the Town Centre First Heritage Revival Scheme – an opportunity for local authorities to secure additional funding support for town centre regeneration throughout the regions.

Regions in Focus 2024 focused on the critical junctures in Irish planning and development, such as the new Planning and Development Bill, the review of the National Planning Framework, and the ongoing challenges posed by climate change. Moderated by the journalist, writer, and presenter Olivia O’Leary, the two-day event featured a compelling lineup of international, national, regional, and local speakers.

Keynote speeches and panel debates facilitated a rich exchange of ideas and best practices, with participants highlighting the importance of sustainability, economic resilience, and inclusive growth.

Cllr. Dermot Lacey, Cathaoirleach of the Association of Irish Regions, reflected on the event’s success, stating:

“The exceptional turnout and dynamic exchanges at this year’s event underscore the critical importance of regional development in Ireland’s future.

Together, we’ve laid down a robust foundation that will drive our regions forward, highlighting the collective resolve to embrace the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.”

“This year’s Regions in Focus event has set a new benchmark for collaborative efforts in shaping a sustainable and prosperous future for Ireland’s Regions,” said David Kelly, Director of the Southern Regional Assembly.

All presentations from the event are available on the Southern Regional Assembly website: www.southernassembly.ie/news/news-article/regions-in-focus-2024

Minister O’Donnell launches new €120m fund to renovate heritage buildings in town centres

THRIVE scheme offers local authorities up to €7m to renovate disused heritage buildings in cities, regional growth centres and key towns
Initiative has potential to transform town centres across the regions supporting delivery of the Government’s Town Centre First Policy

A new funding scheme under Ireland’s two European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Regional Programmes is providing €120m to support local authorities and their citizens to re-imagine town centres and to transform publicly owned vacant or derelict heritage buildings within those town centres through renovation, renewal, and adaptive reuse.

THRIVE – the Town Centre First Heritage Revival Scheme – was launched by Minister of State for Local Government and Planning Kieran O’Donnell TD on 8 February 2024. The scheme has been co-designed by the Regional Assemblies and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to address European, national and regional policy objectives. THRIVE is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union.

Minister of State for Local Government and Planning, Kieran O’Donnell said:

“I welcome the launch of the new €120m THRIVE Scheme under the ERDF Regional Programmes.

This is an exciting scheme that will breathe new life into towns and urban centres across Ireland, so that they can function as the sustainable and vibrant heart of the communities they serve. At the heart of this is the Town Centre First approach. This ensures that local authorities engage with their citizens to develop plans, select suitable projects, and identify sustainable and viable end uses for underutilised heritage buildings. I look forward to seeing the transformative impact in these centres and the benefits this will have in driving regeneration in the years ahead.”

THRIVE will provide local authorities with funding of between €2m and €7m to renovate, refurbish and adapt vacant and derelict heritage buildings in their town centres. Heritage buildings under the scheme are classified as structures that form part of the architectural heritage and have unique architectural, historical, archaeological or artistic qualities, or are linked to the cultural and economic history of a place.

Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan said:

“This announcement demonstrates the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage’s commitment to heritage-led generation and tackling vacancy as part of the delivery of Town Centre First policy.

The funding will support local authorities not only in preserving and protecting our valuable built heritage, but also by ensuring the long-term sustainable re-use of these buildings and helping us meet our climate change targets”.

Staff of the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly attending the Association of Irish Regions Training Seminar on 7-8 February 2024

Cathaoirleach of the Northern and Western Regional Assembly, Cllr John Naughten said:

“I believe that THRIVE will go a long way towards kickstarting development in our region by turning our town centres into attractive spaces for people to live and work and visit.

THRIVE will promote a citizen-centred and community-led approach to planning and design while also preserving the unique cultural significance of our heritage buildings.”

Projects are required to embrace the core values of the New European Bauhaus – sustainability, aesthetics, and inclusion. The scheme promotes a citizen-centred community-led approach to planning, design and project selection under the Town Centre First framework. Grants of between €40,000 and €200,000 are available to support local authorities with the planning and design phase.

Cathaoirleach of the Southern Regional Assembly, Cllr Terry Shannon said:

“THRIVE has the potential to transform our town centres by adapting and reusing vacant and derelict heritage buildings

and allowing us to create beautiful, sustainable and inclusive spaces to improve the quality of life of our citizens. THRIVE provides the opportunity to rejuvenate our heritage buildings to meet the modern and innovative requirements of our communities today.”

THRIVE is targeted at larger urban settlements – cities, regional growth centres and key towns – and is designed to complement other national funds targeting smaller urban settlements. It is a competitive funding call and with 100% grant aid available, is expected to be highly competitive.

Minister of State for Local Government and Planning, Kieran O’Donnell TD with the Southern Regional Assembly (SRA) and the Northern and Western Regional Assembly (NWRA) at the launching of the THRIVE scheme, on 8 February 2024 in Adare, Co. Limerick.

The scheme is managed by the two ERDF Managing Authorities – the Southern Regional Assembly and the Northern and Western Regional Assembly. THRIVE is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union. The first call is now open and published on the Assemblies’ websites at www.southernassembly.ie and www.nwra.ie

Understanding URBACT’s Impact at the Custom House

The Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly (EMRA) held its URBACT Info Day at the Custom House last Thursday, the 25th of January. The event was well attended with local authority staff from throughout Ireland joining us on the day.

The day begun with some networking over tea and coffee during registration, before hearing from Ireland’s Contact Point Karl Murphy about what the day had in store. Bernie Roe, Assistant Director for EU, and Corporate Affairs at the EMRA spoke about the EMRA’s functions with a focus on why the URBACT and European Urban Initiative (EUI) Contact Point roles were of importance to the work of the Assembly, including allowing us to work across our 31 local authorities and helping in the delivery of the regions’ spatial and economic strategies.

Pauline Riordan, Planning Adviser (DHLGH), spoke about the national planning context, implementation, and other funding opportunities. This led nicely into presentations from both Karl and Naïma Jomni (URBACT Secretariat) about URBACT’s impact in Ireland and the details of the recently opened call for Innovation Transfer Networks. It remains open until March 20th at 2pm! The audience later enjoyed hearing URBACT testimonials from Aoife Sheridan, Senior Executive Officer at Fingal County Council and Lorraine O’ Connor, Town Regeneration Officer at Longford County Council. Aoife and Lorraine have vast experience in URBACT projects. Currently, Aoife is Lead Partner on the EcoCore network and Lorraine is a project partner on the U.R. Impact network.

Aoife Sheridan, from Fingal County Council presenting at URBACT event.

Aoife and Lorraine spoke openly about the positive impact URBACT has had on them, their staff, and the work of their local authority. Both encouraged those in the audience thinking about being part of URBACT to get involved! You can read more about the themes of the current call here.

Lorraine O’Connor from Longford County Council presenting at URBACT event.

Later following a networking lunch, an expert panel of Aoife, Lorraine, Pauline, and Naïma was formed, and using the interactive tool Mentimeter, Karl moderated a session including a series of reflections and questions being put to the panel for their responses. This session generated great interest and the panel comprehensively addressed the questions submitted by the audience.

Expert panel featuring Naïma Jomni, URBACT, Lorraine O’Connor, Longford, Aoife Sheridan, Fingal, Pauline Riordan, DHLGH moderated by Karl Murphy, EMRA.

Before the Info Day concluded, Karl Murphy presented the EUI programme offering. EMRA was appointed as Contact Point for the Programme late last year and both URBACT and the EUI jointly offers a menu of options for all our local authorities throughout Ireland to help foster sustainable urban development.

You can reach out anytime to Karl Murphy, EMRA at kmurphy@emra.ie to chat further about either of the programmes.

EMRA in The Public Sector Magazine

Did you spot EMRA’s article ‘EMRA: Driving A Regional Agenda’ published in the Autumn 2023 edition of the Public Sector Magazine?

Last year was one of high impact for the region and beyond. For the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly (EMRA), 2023 marked a number of achievements that are paving the way for more balanced and inclusive regional development. The article highlights the significant contributions the Regional Assembly made in 2023 to support development in our region.

Read the article on pages 142 to 144 in the August 2023 edition by clicking this link or the image below: https://thepublicsector.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/PSMAUT23-WEB.pdf.

Regional Assembly were joint winners of the IPI Planning Awards 2023

The Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly were joint winners of the IPI Planning Awards 2023 under the Research and Innovation category for the Regional Development Monitor.

The Irish Planning Institute (IPI) 2023 Planning Awards took place in Clontarf Castle on 28th September. This year’s Planning Awards recognised innovation and excellence in Irish planning. The Eastern & Midland Regional Assembly (EMRA), on behalf of the three Regional Assemblies in Ireland, was joint winner in the Research and Innovation Category for the Regional Development Monitor.

The Regional Development Monitor (RDM), which was launched in November 2022, is a publicly accessible data website that provides a national mapping and visualisation tool with a range of analytics dashboards, designed to enhance understanding of key societal trends in Ireland to aid better decision making and is the biggest open source data hub in the state.

Initiated by the Regional Assemblies, the RDM is a collaborative project between the three Regional Assemblies in Ireland, the All-Island Research Observatory (AIRO) at Maynooth University and spatial infrastructure partners the Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSI) via the GeoHive platform. Principally designed to Monitor Performance of Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies (RSESs), the RDM assists government departments, regional assemblies, local authorities, planners, policy makers, researchers, elected members and members of the public.
The IPI Planning Awards 2023

The Irish Planning Institute is the largest professional membership body in Ireland representing planners engaging in physical and environmental planning. The IPI awards acknowledge a diverse range of projects and plans nationally taking place at a local, county and regional level in complex and dynamic environments. This year’s Awards recognised innovation and excellence in Irish planning in eight categories.

The eight category winners were:

Plan Making – Kildare County Council – The Athy Local Area Plan 2021-2027 and the Development of a New Generation of Local Area Plans for Kildare
Employment & Enterprise – County Kildare Leader Partnership CLG – Barrow Blueway Economic Plan
Urban Regeneration and Heritage – Donegal County Council – Ballyshannon Historic Towns Initiative Project
Climate Action Biodiversity – EirGrid – The Celtic Interconnector – Good Practice linking Planning, the Planner & Climate Change
Sustainable Communities and Placemaking – Meath County Council – Kilcloon Community Development
Research and Innovation – EMRA on behalf of the Three Regional Assemblies of Ireland – Regional Development Monitor (RDM) – Joint winner – South Dublin County Council – ‘Instantaneous Data’ – A South Dublin Approach to Active Land Management
Workplace of the Year – South Dublin County Council – #Making it Work @ SDCC_Planning
President’s Award – Limerick City and County Council – Young Person Participation in Land Use Planning

Details of each shortlisted entry are available in the awards booklet.

Representatives from the Eastern and Midland, Southern, Northern and Western Regional Assemblies and AIRO at Maynooth University accepting the IPI award 2023 for the Regional Development Monitor on 28th September 2023

Projects Selected for EU JTF Community and Enterprise Grants

List of Selected Projects

Project Name

Organisation

Location

Funding Amount