OVERVIEW AND BACKGROUND TO BMW REGIONAL ASSEMBLY

The regionalisation arrangements negotiated by the Irish authorities back in 1999 in the context of the Agenda 2000 Agreement, saw the designation of the country into two NUTS II Regions for Structural Funds purposes.  These new regions, which were established in 1999 are:

(a) the Border, Midland and Western (BMW) region which qualified as Objective 1 status for Structural Funds for the full period to 2006 and

(b) the Southern and Eastern (S&E) region which  qualified for a six-year phasing-out regime for Objective 1 up to the end of 2005, and for part of the region to 2006.

The next round of EU Structural and Cohesion funding will cover the period 2007-2013.  Under the new regulations regions not covered by the Convergence Objective will qualify for Structural Funds under the Competitiveness and Employment Objective.  This will include the Border Midland and West (BMW) NUTS II region which will qualify as a phasing-in under the transitional arrangements as a previous objective one region which now has a per capita GDP above 75% of the EU25 average. The BMW region will receive European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) funding of €229m over the period and a further €229m in European Social Fund (ESF) funding.

The Irish Government, as set out in the NSRF has decided that Cohesion policy will be delivered through separate regional Operational Programmes for the BMW and the Southern and Eastern Region.  These Programmes will be part-funded by the ERDF. The BMW Regional Assembly has been designated by the Government to be the Managing Authority for the BMW Regional Operational Programme and is responsible for its preparation and delivery.

Given the agreed objectives of Cohesion policy, Structural Funds will be concentrated on implementing community policies, namely Lisbon, Götenburg and the European Employment Strategy.  The specific focus will be on innovation and the knowledge economy, environment and risk minimisation, accessibility to services of general interest (broadband, transport infrastructure), increasing adaptability of workers and enterprises, enhancing access to employment and social

The main roles of the BMW Regional Assembly are to:

-Manage the Regional Operational Programme 2007 / 2013

-Monitor the general impact of all EU Programmes and the National Development Plan in the BMW region

-Promote the co-ordination of the provision of Public Services in the region

-Highlight issues of concern for the region

-Ensure that national policies take the regional dimension into account

-Evolve a role in creating a regional identity

The Assembly building forms the Headquarters of the BMW Regional Assembly. It was once known as Monica Duff’s, an establishment well renowned throughout the region. The activities engaged in were grocery, haberdashery, millinery, footwear, hardware and bar.

There was a builders’ providers section, a bakery, a bottling plant, a mineral water factory, a piggery, an egg-exporting business and a farm, plus whiskey and tea blending and a profitable Guinness agency.   Monica Duff’s  was managed by the late James Dillon who took over the running of the business following the death of his father in 1927.  James Dillon became leader of Fine Gael in 1959 and was renowned as one of the best orators in Dáil Éireann

MEMBERSHIP OF THE BMW REGIONAL ASSEMBLY

Membership of the Regional Assembly is comprised of 29 elected representatives, in proportion to the population of each county. The current chairman is Councillor James Deegan from Laois.

THE BMW REGIONAL ASSEMBLY IS INVOLVED IN THE FOLLOWING INTERREG PROGRAMMES

For the 2007 – 2013 Structural Funds period, the BMW Regional Assembly will act as National Contact Point for the Interreg IVB Atlantic Area Programme. The new eligible area for the programme includes all of Ireland and Portugal and designated parts of Spain, France and the United Kingdom. It is anticipated that the Programme will support projects involving spatial restructuring of the atlantic space, maritime safety, the environment and sustainable natural resources, sustainable transport systems and improving accessibility as well as promoting trans-national innovation networks.

From 2007, designated parts of the west coast of Ireland will be also be eligible to participate in the trans-national Northern Periphery Programme. Counties Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Galway, Mayo, Clare, Limerick, Kerry and Cork will constitute the Irish eligible territory. The Northern Periphery Programme 2007 – 2013 will promote trans-national co-operation with Scottish, Nordic and Scandinavian countries. The programme will support 2 core priorities: - the promotion of innovation and competitiveness in remote and peripheral areas of the Northern Periphery, and the promotion of sustainable development of natural and community resources.

EXECUTIVE STAFF OF THE BMW REGIONAL ASSEMBLY

Mr. Gerry Finn, Director

Mr. Kieran Moylan, Assistant Director

Mr. Gerry Lavelle, Mr. Michael McCauley, Mr. Barry Guckian, Programme Executives

Mr. Adrian O’Donoghue, Policy & Research Officer

Mr. Joe Flynn, Auditor

Mr. Michael O’Brien, Programme Liaison Officer

Ms. Gerardine Lafferty, A/Staff Officer

Ms. Catherine Burke, Assistant Staff Officer

Ms. Pauline Grennan, A/Assistant Staff officer

Ms. Marie Moriarty, Clerical Officer

Ms Jean Towey Temp, Clerical Officer