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

2. 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

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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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.

10. 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 Strategy?
What financial instruments are available to Local Authorities?

11. 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
INTERREG is very accessible for Local Authorities

13. 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)

14. 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

15. 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

16. Room for River project

17. 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

18. 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

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

20. 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

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

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

23. Circular Oceans project

24. 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.

25. Questions…? Go raibh maith agaibh
Labhaoise McKenna
Michael O’Brien

26. Contacts in Ireland for Project Development
Atlantic Area / and Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme
Michael O’Brien
North West Europe
Siobhan Rudden
Ireland Wales
Breda Curran
Marie Harnett
Interreg Europe
David Minton
Stephen Blair
Urbact
NUI Maynooth, Mark Boyle
ESPON