Planning & Economic Development

The Regional Assembly plays a significant role in planning and economic development, acting as a key intermediary between national policies and local implementation to ensure that regional development is strategic, coordinated, and sustainable.

Through the making and implementation of Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies (RSES), the Regional Assembly strives to ensure that regional priorities and local needs are addressed cohesively. A Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy is a planning and economic framework that considers the future development of the region for a period of not less than 12 years and not more than 20 years.

The first RSES for the region was made by the Regional Assembly in accordance with the provisions of the Planning & Development Act 2000 (as amended). The RSES is a strategic plan which identifies regional assets, opportunities and pressures and provides appropriate policy responses in the form of Regional Policy Objectives.

The objective of a RSES is to support the implementation of the National Planning Framework (NPF), as part of Project Ireland 2040, and the economic policies and objectives of the Government by providing a long-term strategic planning and economic framework for the development of the Region. The RSES is of critical importance for the delivery of Project Ireland 2040, given that it is the succeeding tier of policy delivery in Ireland.

The elected members of the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly (EMRA) agreed to make the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) 2019-2031, on June 28th 2019.

Complementary Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies have also been prepared by the Southern Regional Assembly and the Northern & Western Regional Assembly for their respective regions.

In this section

Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2019-2031 (RSES)

The primary statutory objective of the Strategy is to support implementation of Project Ireland 2040 – which links planning and investment through the National Planning Framework (NPF) and ten- year National Development Plan (NDP) – and the economic and climate policies of the Government by providing a long-term strategic planning and investment framework for the Region.

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Link to: Regional Development Monitor

Regional Development Monitor

The Regional Development Monitor (RDM), provides a national mapping and visualisation tool with a range of analytics dashboards.

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Link to: Submissions made by EMRA

EMRA Submissions

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Latest News & Events

All News & Events
Image with logos for the European Urban Initiative and URBACT

European Urban Initiative (EUI) and URBACT Information Session

Join the next joint information session on 25 March at the Richmond Education and Event Centre, North Brunswick Street, Dublin to learn about upcoming calls and opportunities through European Urban Initiative (EUI) and URBACT.
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Just Transition Funding

Ministers Heydon and O’Brien announce €10 million EU Just Transition Funding for two bioeconomy demonstration projects

Awards of €5 million each from the EU Just Transition Fund Bioeconomy Demonstration Initiative will support two bioeconomy projects with collaboration…
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Supporting a Sustainable Transition through climate Action for a Resilient Territory (START) Scheme

An EUJTF funding call for projects supporting Local Authority Climate Action Plans. Expressions of interest due to Pobal 13 March 2026. Official Applications open 21 April 2026.
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EMRA to participate in Regional Studies Association Annual Conference on ‘Compact ‘Growth at University College Cork

The Annual Conference of the Irish Section of the Regional Studies Association will take place on the 20th of February at University College Cork (UCC). This…
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Press Release – EMRA Calls for Urgent Review of Transport Investment Plan

Read a press release about how EMRA has formally written to Ministers expressing concerns regarding the National Development Plan (NDP) Review 2025 Sectoral Investment Plan for Transport.
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Call for Social Innovation Projects: Share Your Community Impact with ELIF

Are you involved in a community-led social innovation project? Are you working to strengthen your community with innovative and inspiring initiatives? The…
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Reclaim the Economy Week 2026

Reclaim the Economy Week is happening on 26th January – 1st February 2026 and events are being held around the world to raise awareness and spark creativity around how to ensure that our economy serves us better.
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Students sponsored by EMRA and EU Just Transition Fund visit the European Parliament

Students sponsored by EMRA and the EU Just Transition Fund recently joined students from across Ireland at the European Parliament representing their school and county.
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Just Transition Fest celebrates EU Just Transition Fund Impact

Just Transition Fest on 5 November 2025 celebrated the achievement to date of the EU Just Transition Fund and showcased the projects funded by the EUJTF programme.
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Policies for People and Places – Interreg Event for Knowledge-Sharing

EMRA participated in the Interreg Europe event "Policies for People and Places" took place in Amsterdam 12-13 November 2025.
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Smart and Sustainable Mobility Accelerator Track 3: Academia and Innovation Actors took place in TU Dublin on 22 October 2025

The SSMA programme and Sustainable Mobility Academy, developed by the Regional Assemblies and BABLE Smart Cities with support from the Department of Transport,…
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European Week of Regions and Cities 2025 – Strengthening Policy Alignment and Stakeholder Engagement

In mid October 2025, members of the EMRA Planning Team attended the European Week of Regions and Cities 2025 in Brussels, the EU’s largest annual gathering on regional and urban policy. Read about the event.
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Contact EMRA

Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly
3rd Floor North, Ballymun Civic Centre
Main Street, Ballymun
Dublin 9, D09 C8P5
Ireland

+353 (0) 1 8074482

info@emra.ie

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