About the NWRA

What we do

The Northern and Western Regional Assembly aims to play a transformative role in the success of our region. Our Vision is to craft a creative, vibrant and low-carbon regional economy. Our members and team simply want to ‘connect’ the strengths of this incredible region and celebrate its unique sense of place. The Assembly is intent on leading Ireland into 2040.

Our objectives are clear. The Regional Assembly is intent on adopting international best practice in planning & development in order to create BETTER PLACES. Underpinning this approach is the commitment to enhancing COMPETITIVENESS through policies that build resilience and sustainability, working with our stakeholders to utilise EU & Exchequer funding. Achieving this will be done through a dedicated and principled approach to COLLABORATION.

The Regional Assembly has a vision to enhance our region’s competitiveness through ‘CONNECTING’ and building on our strengths. The Regional Assembly is playing a lead role in the success story of this region.

Who we are

The Northern & Western Regional Assembly (NWRA) was established on 1st January 2015. The Border, Midland and Western Regional Assembly was established in 1999, one of two Regional Assemblies established to give effect to the division of the country into two regions for EU Structural Funds purposes.

Under the Local Government Reform Act 2014 a number of changes were made to the regional structures in Ireland. The eight regional authorities were dissolved on 1st June 2014 and their functions and staff were transferred to the Regional Assemblies. Subsequently three Regional Assemblies were established on 1st January 2015 – the NWRA, the Eastern & Midlands Regional Assembly and the Southern Regional Assembly. Together the Regional Assemblies form a strong regional structure that strengthens the development of Ireland’s regions in a co-ordinated, strategic manner.

Location

The Headquarters of the NWRA is located in Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon and we have a workforce of 18 people.

The NWRA is comprised of 25 elected Members nominated by the 9 local authorities within the region. The NWRA covers eight counties – Galway, Roscommon, Leitrim, Sligo, Donegal, Monaghan, Mayo and Cavan and works closely with the nine local authorities (Galway City Council and Galway County Council cover one county) who manage these counties.

Members of NWRA

Membership of the NWRA is drawn from elected members across our Local Authorities (Galway City & County, Roscommon, Leitrim, Sligo, Donegal, Monaghan, Mayo and Cavan) in proportion to the population of each county.

Cavan Donegal Galway Galway City Leitrim Mayo Monaghan Roscommon Sligo CoR

Cllr Áine Smith

Fianna Fáil

Cllr Jack Murray

Sinn Féin

Cllr David Collins

Fine Gael

Cllr Niall McNelis

Labour

Cllr Enda McGloin

Fine Gael

Cllr Jarlath Munnelly

Fine Gael

Cllr David Maxwell

Fine Gael

Cllr John Naughten

Fine Gael

Cllr Donal Gilroy

Fianna Fáil

Committee of the Regions

Cllr Declan McDonnell

(Galway City Council) Independent

Cllr Jimmy McClearn

(Galway Co Co) Fine Gael

Cllr Enda Stenson

(Leitrim Co Co) Independent

Staff of NWRA

The Regional Assembly employs 24 staff to carry out its various executive and corporate functions in relation to Regional Planning, Managing the ERDF co-funded Regional Programme and other EU funding streams.