Category: NWRA News - Page 21 - Northern & Western Regional Assembly

Young Ireland Programme 2018

While storm Ali raged on in Ireland, our colleague Maeve spent the week participating in the Young Ireland Programme 2018 in North Queensferry near Edinburgh in Scotland. Delegates participating in the programme came from both Ireland and Scotland from organisations ranging from Coillte to the Department of the Taoiseach, The Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, the Department of Business, Enterprise & Innovation and many more. This very diverse range of delegates led to an eye opening week with discussions such as ‘Rural v’s Urban Living’, ‘The Housing Crisis across Ireland’ and ‘The Importance of the Citizens Assembly in the Lead-Up to the most recent referenda in Ireland’ making it a very informative and thought provoking week. The overall Young Ireland Thinker of the Year was awarded to Mr. Patrick McCabe from the Department of Justice & Equality for his paper on the tyranny of counting, a world in which crude measurement takes precedence over professional and ethical judgements

The purpose of the Young Ireland Programme is to develop the communication skills and broaden the horizons of people in the early stages of their working lives. It does so through an annual residential course of three days’ duration in which delegates are encouraged to think and talk freely about the big issues facing us as a society. Through discussion and dialogue, the personal testimonies of inspiring speakers, and the delegates’ own presentations on questions of ‘current interest or controversy’, the programme helps to build confidence, stimulate debate, and increase awareness of the world around us. The minimum age for entry is 18, but there is no upper age-limit: the Young Ireland Programme is open to anyone in the formative years of their career, irrespective of age.

If you think you or someone in your organisation would benefit from such a programme next year or you would like more information on the programme, see their website Young Ireland Programme

Trinno Project Partners from Slovenia visit our region

Four members of the Trinno Project team visited our region to experience and learn from examples of good practice supports that are currently provided for small and medium enterprises in County Roscommon.

The visit which is part of a work package under the Interreg Europe co funded Trinno project will assist the staff from the Slovenian Ministry of Economic Development and Technology and the Development Centre of the Heart of Slovenia in finalising their action plan to help enterprises and aspiring entrepreneurs apply benefits of digital innovation to traditional sectors in Slovenia.

The group also visited a number of SMEs supported by the Local Enterprise Offices in Roscommon and a number of supported SMEs at the LEO stand at the National Ploughing Championships.

For More Information on the Trinno Project visit Interreg Trinno

National Ploughing Championships

Telling the story

Our Comms team spent the day in Carrick on Shannon, hosted by our friends in Leitrim County Council and looking at new ways of telling the story of EU structural funds in our region.

This site will feature a number of those stories very soon which we hope that you will enjoy.

If you have a story or photo that you would like to share with us, please drop us an email ei.ar1752075849wn@sn1752075849oitac1752075849inumm1752075849oc1752075849 or give us a call 094 9862970.

We love hearing if projects co-funded by the European Union have helped make things better for you, at home, at work or at play and we would love to share your experience with our visitors.

Rural Regeneration and Development Fund Briefing

We worked with our Colleagues from the Department of Rural and Community Development to provide an information briefing in Carrick on Shannon on the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.

Items covered included:

For more information on the fund, please visit the DRCD website

Local Cllr drives development of Atlantic Economic Corridor

Having led the region through a complex period in its development and only last week saw his vision for the Atlantic Economic Corridor launched, Cllr Patsy O’Brien was roundly praised by associates in the chamber of the Northern and Western Regional Assembly.

This year saw the publication and launch of Project Ireland 2040 in Sligo. There are many reasons why the launch came to this region and why the region justifies such prominence in the final strategy.

According to Director of the Northern and Western Regional Assembly, David Minton, ‘principal amongst them is the leadership demonstrated by Cllr O’Brien in ensuring the priorities for this region were captured in the National Planning Framework. Patsy managed to leave politics at the door and bring a partnership together from across the nine counties to ensure this place and all our communities continue to receive investment and infrastructure’.

Early drafts of the National Planning Framework left out large parts of this region, north of Galway. A strategic intervention led by Cllr O’Brien met with regional Oireachtas members and senior Ministers to engage in meaningful discussions. This intervention ensured that this region is properly recognised with a number of commitments given in both policy and capital investment.

Commencing his year as Cathaoirleach he clearly articulated his vision, said Assistant Director Caitlin Conneely. ‘Ensuring the Atlantic Economic Corridor (AEC) saw considerable progression was an essential priority for him’. The AEC is now a critical artery in Government policy and the website was launched just this month – www.atlanticeconomiccorridor.ie .

Cllr O’Brien said ‘Its not just about a road. Enabling the AEC allows us to feasibly consider enhanced investment in rail connectivity, tourism, enterprise and investment along the western seaboard. We now have a website and AEC Development Offiers in each of the local authorities for strong foundations’.

In addition some of the work that went unnoticed for this region is Cllr O’Brien’s involvement in overseeing €31m in expenditure declared to the European Commission supporting Local Enterprise Offices, SME Capacity building, Research Centres as well as Energy Efficiency initiatives throughout the region. Led the Regional Assembly in securing over €32.6M in research, development and commercial grants for stakeholders across the country from EU funding sources.

Incoming Cathaoirleach Cllr Seamus Coyle said that Cllr O’Brien ‘steered the ship with such admiration from his colleagues. Representing the region during a particularly important time and ensuring the next generation in all our communities have equal opportunity’.

Online collaborative initiative promotes the benefits of Atlantic Economic Corridor for families, individuals and entrepreneurs

Nine counties join forces to highlight the economic opportunity along Ireland’s western seaboard
Minister Seán Kyne launches new online hub atlanticeconomiccorridor.ie

Minister for Community Development, Natural Resources and Digital Development Seán Kyne, T.D., will today (29 June) in NUI Galway launch the Atlantic Economic Corridor website.

Businesses and agencies in nine counties stretching from Kerry to Donegal have joined forces to launch an online hub for the Atlantic Economic Corridor to drive interest in the west coast as a great place to live and work, and attract further investment to the region.

The Atlantic Economic Corridor website will act as a one-stop shop offering information on the advice and supports for people thinking of setting up a business in the region, or for those interested in relocating and creating an Atlantic-coast lifestyle for themselves or their families.

The development of the Atlantic Economic Corridor is a long-term collaborative initiative encompassing Ireland’s business community, national and local government, higher education sector, and public bodies. The partnership driven by the Atlantic Economic Corridor Taskforce aims to nurture entrepreneurialism and innovation, encourage infrastructural investment, attract foreign direct investment and support indigenous companies with global ambitions.

Commenting on the website Minister Kyne, said:

“A wide range of companies have already discovered the benefits of the Atlantic Economic Corridor as a place to do business. Across a range of industries, enterprises of all sizes can avail of increased business opportunities and tap into the wealth of skills available through our educated and dynamic workforce. Through this website we can attract more investment to the west of Ireland and show what a great place Ireland’s western seaboard is to live in.

“The development of the AEC is a long-term project. Launching this website is very much an initial step in our work, but it is also an important step. It enables us to get the message out that the AEC is the ideal location for businesses to set-up and expand. It shows that many major businesses are already established along the corridor, that we have the infrastructure and skills necessary to support modern businesses, and that business and Government are working closely together to further develop the AEC in the coming years.”

The region represented by the AEC has a total population of 1.7 million people and is home to a wide range of successful businesses, including ambitious start-ups, established multinationals, and indigenous Irish firms prospering in global markets.The region boasts a number of higher education institutions producing a steady supply of graduates across a wide range of industries, making it an ideal location for enterprises wishing to tap into a high skilled workforce.

Shannon Chamber of Commerce board director and operations director with medical device manufacturer ZimmerBiomet, Claude Costelloe, said:

“As a business which employs in excess of 600 people in our facilities in Shannon and Galway, we see the value that can be derived from addressing the untapped potential of an entire region, linking cities and rural areas, and the transformative potential it has for concentrating investment and innovation across a ‘place’ of scale.”

David Minton, director of the Northern and Western Regional Assembly (NWRA) who is a member of the AEC taskforce, said:

“The Atlantic Economic Corridor is not about city or county. It’s not about boundaries or catchments. It’s about collective vision, fuelled by the potential of economic opportunity.

“As citizens and people of the Atlantic region we know that we live in one of the most beautiful and best places in the world. Something innately connects our cities, towns and villages as well as our industry, entrepreneurs and multinationals. This connection now has a home as the Atlantic Economic Corridor.”

Picture by Andrew Downes

Minister for Community Development, Natural Resources and Digital Development, Seán Kyne with Tony Neary, VP & MD, Medtronic and Helen Leahy, Ibec, Regional Policy Executive

Learn more MARIE!

For many Responsible Research & Innovation (RRI) is seen as a complex concept that is not easily understood, however RRI is not that complex at all. It simply sets a challenge for all of society (researchers, citizens, public authorities and business etc.) to work together throughout the research and innovation process to address the values, needs and expectations of society. If this approach is to work, public policy needs to support this.

MARIE is an exciting project (part-funded under the Interreg Europe Programme) that promotes responsible research and innovation in key sectors. MARIE’s 10 European partners are working together sharing experiences, solutions and good practices to develop and deliver better public policy by promote responsible research and innovation.

Since commencing in January 2017, loads of progress has been made. The partnership has shared and exchanged good ideas about RRI. Each partner has researched the awareness of RRI in their regions. Here in Ireland RRI is a familiar concept in the research or higher educational sectors, but there appears to be a lack awareness by others such as the business sector. MARIE aims to address this by raising awareness and promoting these concepts.

MARIE’s next exciting phase which will involve an Action Plan or “road map” being drafted to outlined how good practices we have learned can be adapted and used here in Ireland to improve Irish public policy in the area of RRI.

MARIE is part-funded by the Interreg Europe Programme, through the European Regional Development Fund and is led by CISE – Special Agency of the Chamber of Commerce of Florì-Cesena, Italy.

MARIE will run until 2021, find out more about MARIE at www.interregeurope.eu/marie/

For further information contact:

Southern Regional Assembly, Waterford, Ireland

Ms. Orla Kelly, ei.yl1752075849bmess1752075849anreh1752075849tuos@1752075849yllek1752075849o1752075849

+353 (0) 51 860700, www.southernassembly.ie

Masterclass in Regional Development

The Masterclass in Regional Development is a bespoke programme that brings together senior regional stakeholders and thought leaders on a particular topic. This series focused on Collaborative Leadership on how together we can

Sustain and Win new investment– Prof Alan Ahearne (NUIG) and Mr. Martin Shanahan, CEO, IDA
Accelerate Growth– Dr. John Breslin (NUIG / INSIGHT) and Ger Brady (Ibec)
Plan for Growth– Dr. Deirdre Garvey (WDC) and Paul Hogan, NPF Team (DPHLG)

Attendees heard and contributed to a conversation around tangible interventions which can drive economic prosperity.

Download Presentations from the Masterclass

Collaborative Leadership to Increase the Northern & Western Region’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Capacity – Dr John Breslin

Accelerating regional growth in uncertain times – Gerard Brady

Enabling the Region through Planning – Paul Hogan

Outlook for the Irish Economy – Prof Alan Ahearne

Collaborative Leadership and Practice – Siobhan Bradley

Register your contact details to receive updates on all forthcoming events

45 Stories celebrating 45 Years of Ireland’s EU Membership

To celebrate Ireland’s 45 years of EU membership, the EU Commission Representstion in Ireland has put together 45 stories that illustrate just some of the ways Ireland has benefited over the past four and a half decades.

The “45 inspiring stories celebrating Ireland’s 45 years of EU membership” brochure can be viewed or downloaded here.

Download 45 Stories

For More information, visit the Commission Website.