1. Mid-West Regional Authority Pécs 7 th & 8 th May 2012

2.  Regional Authority – NUTS III  27 elected members working with four local authority areas in the Region - Counties Clare, Limerick & North Tipperary and Limerick City  Main functions of MWRA: 1. Promote coordination of public services; 2. Implementation of Regional Planning Guidelines; 3. Monitoring of structural funds (implementing authority).

3.  Approx. 380,000 population  Diverse region with a strong industrial/technological core & rural hinterland  Main sectors of employment are: - Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing : 10.9%  - Manufacturing 10.5%  Mid West Region is on the Atlantic Sea Board of Ireland with lots of potential to exploit natural resources for:  Ocean Energy  Wind Energy  Bioenergy from forestry/agricultural residues

4.  Irish Energy White Paper (2007)  National Climate Change Strategy (2007)  Bioenergy Action Plan for Ireland  National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) 2010  National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP) 2010  SEAI Strategic Plan 2010- 2015

5.  Mid-West Regional Bioenergy Action Plan  Climate Change Strategy and Energy Balance for Mid-West Region  Regional Planning Guidelines 2010-2022

6.  Objectives & Significance of the RPGs: 1. Set clear objectives and targets to guide the development plans of the planning authorities; 2. Promote effective integration and coordination of development plans; 3. Work within overall national policy frameworks to achieve regional and local implementation.

7.  4 Local Authorities (as policy makers and large-scale users of energy for heat, power and transport)  Limerick-Clare Energy Agency  Tipperary Energy Agency – policy and technical advice

8. The overall shares of energy from renewable sources Source: First Report on Ireland’s NREAP Target = 16% by 2020 Demonstrated need for improved Sustainable Energy Policy Implementation at Local and Regional Level

9.  Learn from other regions about how to improve the implementation of Sustainable Energy policies to produce tangible results STEP: Improving Communities’ Sustainable Energy Policy Tools

10. Mid-West Regional Authority Friars Court Abbey Street Nenagh Co. Tipperary Ireland www.mwra.ie STEP project contact point: Ms Deirdre Byrne, EU Projects Officer + 353-67-33197 dbyrne@mwra.ie