European Funding and Policy-making opportunities for local and regional government sector Labhaoise McKenna

Who we are? Regional Authorities 2 x NUTS II Regions 20 years since first appeared, moved on substantially in terms of geography. New Functions. Talk about 4 main areas National planning framework Regional spatial & Economic strategies Local Economic & Community plans EU Funding 2b) One key message today is to ensure funding follows policy National NPF ↓ ↓ Regional RSES Local LECP ↓ Draw down EU Funds 2c) So 3 Regions North & Western Southern Eastern & Midland 2 x NUTS II Regions Former Regional Assemblies 3 x NUTS II Regions Current regional structure

Funding follows policy… Regions Focus NPF RSES LECP EU Funds To sum up funding follows policy.

Policy making opportunities Using best practice from Europe to inform the RSES Being mindful of EU Policy and Programmes in the preparation of regional and local policy - LECP Funding follows policy: LECPs as a tool to draw down European funding Committee of the Regions (CoR) INTERREG : Develop opportunities and new ideas to address regional policy challenges

Joined up thinking 3 Regional Assemblies, The Irish Regions Office (IRO) and LGMA’s Research and Innovation section to LGMA/ CCMA working together to: Define Local Authority priorities / research agenda? Match make local authorities with funding opportunities? Align local authorities local plans with EU priorities / thematic objectives? Engage with the Irish delegation to the Committee of the Regions

Regional Operation Programmes European Regional Development Fund ERDF Aligned to former NUTS 2 regions Southern & Eastern Border, Midland, West NUTS 2 Reclassified. Now 3 NUTS 2 regions

Europe 2020 Strategy – 11 Themes SMART SUSTAINABLE INCLUSIVE Research and Innovation Combating climate change Employment and Mobility Information and Communication technologies Environment and resource efficiency Social inclusion Competitiveness of SMEs Sustainable transport Better education, training Low-carbon economy Better public administration

EU Poliy & Funding Framework Opportunities for Local Government Sector Map of funding streams for Local Government Sector. Shared Management (European Commission and Member State) Direct Management (European Commission) Europe 2020 Strategy

EU funding stream tool 20a) EU Funding tool – In-house. Contact points & development objectives. 20b) EMRA working with CCMA on how to better serve local government. Important CoR & IRO.

What do you want? …Funding follows policy… To inform policy? To change policy? To share good practices? To learn good practices? To address a challenge? To find new ways of working? To address priority areas? Capital investment Community initiatives Environmental enhancements Urban renewal Coastal management Supporting SMEs Who else is in this space? Who else needs to address a common challenge Who can you learn from? Who are the leader / follower regions? Are you addressing policy? is your policy aligned with EU 2020 Strategy? What financial instruments are available to Local Authorities?

What is INTERREG? INTERREG is a series of European Territorial Cooperation (ETC) programmes that aim to stimulate cross border and inter- regional cooperation in the European Union. Started in 1989, INTERREG is financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) INTERREG V covers the period 2014-2020 INTERREG is very accessible for Local Authorities

Types of Interreg Cross Border Programmes (INTERREG VA) Ireland -Wales Programme Ireland/Northern Ireland/Scotland Programme. Transnational Co-Operation (INTERREG VB) Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme (NPA) Atlantic Area Programme (AA) North West Europe Programme (NWE) Inter-regional ( INTERREG VC) Interreg Europe (EU 28 MS)

What is a Funding Programme? Selection of the 11 thematic objectives Managing Authority (MA) Joint Secretariat (JS) Programme Monitoring Committee (PMC) Programme Steering Committee (PSC) National Contact points (e.g. Interreg, Horizon 2020, Life+ etc) Development Officers (e.g. Ireland Wales) Calls – Fixed / Open / Targeted Different co-financing rates Different Rules and Procedures

Why participate? To find shared solutions to shared problems To learn best practice To build partnerships and co-operate across borders/regions To develop opportunities and new ideas to address regional challenges To develop new products and services To network and exchange To influence policies Example: Room for the River

Room for River project

Programme is 50% committed Open call Cross border programme Budget: €100M Grant rate: 80 % Counties: Dublin, Dún Laoghaire- Rathdown, Fingal, Kerry, Cork, Tipperary, Waterford, Kilkenny, Wexford, Carlow, Wicklow, Kildare, Meath, South Dublin, Programme is 50% committed Open call Opportunities for Heritage / Biodiversity. Targeted Priority 3 call in June/July

Cross border programme Budget: €240M Grant rate: 85% Counties: Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Cavan, Monaghan, Louth 62% ERDF committed Open and targeted calls: Environment Call – Marine protection area (9th June deadline) Health Call

Budget: €370M Grant rate: 60% All counties eligible 22% committed Transnational programme Budget: €370M Grant rate: 60% All counties eligible 22% committed

Call 3 opens March 1st and closes 30th June Policy Programme Interreg V-C Inter-regional programme Budget: €359M Grant rate: 85% All counties eligible 57% committed Call 3 opens March 1st and closes 30th June Policy Programme

Budget: €229M Grant rate: 85% Counties: 43% committed Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Cavan, Monaghan, Louth 43% committed

ETC - URBACT URBACT - Pan-European exchange and learning programme to promote integrated sustainable urban development Budget 2014-2020: €79m National Contact Point: NUI Maynooth Who is already involved? Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, Dublin, Kildare Co Co (Naas), Kilkenny, Limerick, Longford, Monaghan

Circular Oceans project

Strategic Management Framework for Dublin Bay Provide a framework for engaging stakeholders in the management of Dublin Bay. Provide tools and enable stakeholders to acquire a better understanding of Dublin Bay using an ecosystem based approach. Implementation toolkit, collate baseline data, and set up a template for information share monitoring and evaluation which is informed by local needs, pressures and policy. Identify new opportunities or actions for enhancing Dublin Bay. Take account of policies from an EU to a local level impacting on issues relating to the Bay.

Questions…? Go raibh maith agaibh Labhaoise McKenna lmckenna@emra.ie 01 807 4482 Michael O’Brien mobrien@nwra.ie 094 9877021

Contacts in Ireland for Project Development Atlantic Area / and Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme Michael O’Brien mobrien@nwra.ie North West Europe Siobhan Rudden srudden@southernassembly.ie Ireland Wales Breda Curran bcurran@southernassembly.ie Marie Harnett mharnett@southernassembly.ie Interreg Europe David Minton dminton@nwra.ie Stephen Blair sblair@southernassembly.ie Urbact NUI Maynooth, Mark Boyle Mark.G.Boyle@nuim.ie ESPON