Northern and Western Regional Assembly (NWRA) Submissions to Government Departments & Agencies
Contact NWRA
Northern & Western Regional Assembly
Dillon House, Ballaghaderreen
Co. Roscommon
F45 WY26
Ireland
+353 (0) 94 986 2970
The Northern and Western Regional Assembly prepare submissions/observations on a number of Regional and National Plans, as part of their remit under Regional Planning and Economic Development.
These submissions are agreed with the Assembly Members, and seek to reflect regional (and sub-regional) priorities across a number of areas, as well as articulating the aims of the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES).
View NWRA submissions by year:
2024
Pre-Budget 2025 Submission
Budget 2025 has a unique opportunity to address one of the longstanding challenges being experienced on the island of Ireland – namely the issue of regional inequalities – with failure to address this challenge having a direct impact on the ability of policymakers to make progress on areas such as housing, health, education and the environment. As such, Budget 2025 needs to adopt and deliver a policy of “Regional Equity” in Ireland, ensuring that all regions on the island of Ireland can begin to achieve their full economic potential and that none are left behind from an economic perspective.
Download Pre-Budget 2025 Submission
Submission on the review of the National Ports Policy
The Department of Transport commenced a review of the National Ports policy on 19 October 2023. Given the importance of our port network in facilitating trade, managing marine resources and supporting Ireland’s transition to a low-carbon society, the National Ports Policy must be updated to focus on the new opportunities and challenges experienced by our ports and coastal communities. This topic is of particular importance to the Northern and Western Region of Ireland, with the region home to several “Ports of Regional Significance” – including the Port of Galway, Killybegs Harbour and Ros an Mhíl– as well as other important fisheries ports including – but not limited to – Sligo Port and Greencastle.
Download Submission on the review of the National Ports Policy
Regional Economic Briefing Note Regional Housing Activity 2023
On the 25th of January 2024, the CSO released the 2023 data on the total level of new dwelling completions in Ireland, with this information available for the NUTS 2 Regions, NUTS 3 Regions, the Local Authorities and the new “Built-Up-Areas” of Ireland. In the document, we breakdown these figures for the region.
Download Regional Economic Briefing Note Regional Housing Activity 2023
2023
Pre-Budget 2024 Submission
In our annual pre-budget submission, despite our region’s considerable strengths, we highlight that the region has experienced significant challenges in recent years. These challenges – which range from but are not limited to infrastructure deficits due to historical underinvestment and a lack of urban centres of scale – are causing the Northern and Western Region to lag behind other regions and leading to a continued rise in regional inequalities in Ireland.
Download Pre-Budget 2024 Submission
Response to the Publication of the All-Island Rail Review
The All-Island Strategic Rail Review has been jointly commissioned by the Department of Transport in Ireland and the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. Public Consultation was opened on 25 July 2023. The provision of accessible, frequent, high-quality and affordable rail services across the Northern and Western Region of Ireland will be key to simultaneously supporting the delivery of balanced regional development in Ireland – in line with the vision and objectives of the National Planning Framework (NPF) and the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) of the Northern and Western Region.
Download Response to the Publication of the All-Island Rail Review
NWRA Submission on Review of Regional Airports Programme
Opened for consultation on the 2nd December 2022, the NWRA response explained the role that our 2 regional airports play in the economic development of the Northern and Western Region of Ireland, by facilitating trade, supporting employment and enterprise development, encouraging tourism growth while enhancing regional connectivity of rural oriented regions.
Download NWRA Submission on Review of Regional Airports Programme
Submissions on Statement of Strategies for Departments
The NWRA made submissions to the Government Departments listed below, to advise how they should set out their strategies over the coming years and that they align with the RSES. The implementation of these strategies has the potential to significantly realign the composition of Ireland’s population and employment base to support better balanced and effective regional development.
Download Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Download Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Download Department of Rural and Community Development
Download Department of Agriculture
Download Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Download Department of Transport
NWRA submission to the Bioeconomy Action Plan 2023-2025
On 24 November 2022 the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine launched a consultation period for the National Bioeconomy Action Plan.
The Irish bioeconomy has the potential to deliver a more sustainable approach to economic development, providing significant opportunities to create more circular-based business models, utilise waste and natural resources and generate more sustainable bio-based products and services for consumers. In doing so, the Irish bioeconomy can support the implementation of the objectives outlined in the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy for the Northern and Western Region (RSES), the Climate Action Plan 1 and support Ireland’s ambition to reduce carbon emissions by 51% by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions no later than 2050.
Download NWRA submission to the Bioeconomy Action Plan 2023-2025
2022
Pre-Budget 2023 Submission
The Northern and Western Regional Assembly has prepared this Pre-Budget 2023 submission which summarises some of the strategic economic challenges of the region and evidences how Budget 2023 can play an important role in enhancing the performance of the economy of the Northern and Western Region.
Download Pre-Budget 2023 Submission
Submission on the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment’s “White Paper on Enterprise Policy”
NWRA Submission to the All Island Rail Review
It is the view of the Northern and Western Regional Assembly that the provision of accessible, frequent, high-quality and affordable public transport services across the Island of Ireland will be key to simultaneously supporting the transition to a low/zero carbon society and delivering balanced regional development, as per the vision and objectives of the National Planning Framework (NPF) and the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES).
2021
NWRA Submission on the NTA’s “Connecting Ireland” proposals
The provision of accessible, frequent, high-quality and affordable public transport services across the Northern and Western Region will be key to simultaneously supporting the region’s transition to a low carbon society and delivering balanced regional development as per the vision and objectives of the National Planning Framework (NPF) and the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) of the Northern and Western Region.
Download NWRA Submission on the NTA’s “Connecting Ireland” proposals
Submission on the 1st Offshore Renewable Energy Support Scheme
the “Offshore Renewable Electricity Support Scheme be fundamental to delivering on key commitments outlined in the 2021 Climate Action Plan, which – amongst other things – aims to increase the share of electricity demand generated from renewable sources by up to 80 per cent and deliver the connection of at least 5 Gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind to the grid by 2030. The delivery of these key commitments will be central to supporting Ireland’s transition to a low carbon society.
Download Submission on the 1st Offshore Renewable Energy Support Scheme
Pre-Budget 2022 Submission
The Northern and Western Regional Assembly has prepared this pre-budget submission which summarises some of the economic challenges facing the region and shows how the Budget 2022 can play a central role in improving the performance of the Northern and Western Region’s economy.
Download Pre-Budget 2022 Submission
NWRA Submission on Ireland’s Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3)
The Northern and Western Regional Assembly is committed to delivering effective regional development in Ireland, and Ireland’s next S3 – if developed appropriately – has the potential to notably reduce regional disparities that exist in the State and effectively support the implementation of the National Planning Framework (NPF) and the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) of the Northern and Western Region.
Download NWRA Submission on Ireland’s Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3)
NWRA Submission on Research and Innovation Strategy
The new National Research and Innovation Strategy will be key in implementing the vision and objectives of the National Planning Framework (NPF) and the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) of the Northern and Western Region. In this briefing note; the purpose of which is to highlight the importance of research and innovation to our region’s economy, provide our region’s stakeholders with the latest trends on the region’s performance in terms of research and innovation.
Download NWRA Submission on Research and Innovation Strategy
NWRA Submission to the EirGrid Consulation Shaping our Future Electricity Grid
The future enhancement and augmentation of the National Energy Distribution Grid via EirGrid will be pivotal to any Regional economic recovery for Connacht / Ulster.
Download NWRA Submission to the EirGrid Consulation Shaping our Future Electricity Grid
NWRA Submission to the National Investment Framework for Transport Ireland (NIFTI)
NWRA Submission to the National Investment Framework for Transport Ireland (NIFTI)
The forthcoming review of the National Development Plan (NDP), together with the National Investment Framework Transport for Ireland, the furtherance of Ireland’s Rural Future, and implementation of the Government’s commitment to Regional Development will, in combination, be instrumental in tackling the substantial challenges facing the Northern and Western Region.
Download NWRA Submission to the National Investment Framework for Transport Ireland (NIFTI)
NWRA Submission to the Voluntary National Review of United Nations SDGs
Download NWRA Submission to the Voluntary National Review of United Nations SDGs
NWRA Submission to the review of the National Development Plan
The forthcoming review of the National Development Plan (NDP) will be instrumental in tackling the substantial challenges facing the Northern and Western Region’s economy; challenges hich – if unaddressed – could notably enhance regional inequalities that exist in Ireland and undermine the delivery of the National Planning Framework (NPF) and the Programme for Government.
Download NWRA Submission to the review of the National Development Plan
2020
Submission to National Economic Recovery Plan
According to the European Commission, regional disparities in Ireland are among the highest in the EU and more alarming these disparities in Ireland are increasing. It has been well documented that the Northern & Western region has not performed economically as well as its fellow regions in Ireland and relative to the EU norm. The National Economic Recovery Plan will be key to achieving the overarching vision of the Northern and Western Regional Assembly’s RSES.