Northern & Western Regional Assembly

02/04/2026

🤝 Last week most of the NWRA team came together for a productive team meeting.

It was a great opportunity to celebrate our recent work, reflect on how far we've come, and look ahead as we plan for the future.

A big thank you to all our partners and stakeholders for your continued support. Wishing you all a restful and enjoyable Easter break 🐣

02/04/2026

The first quarter of 2026 has been a busy and exciting time for the NWRA🚀

➡️ Check out our Q1 2026 newsletter https://mailchi.mp/nwra/nwra-q4-2025-newsletter-14069045

📢 Don't miss out. Stay informed, stay connected, sign up for future newsletters today📩 https://www.nwra.ie/subscribe/

31/03/2026

🎉 The call for applications for the 2026 is now open!

The 24th edition of the European Week of Regions and Cities takes place in Brussels from 12 to 14 October 2026, under the motto "Strong Regions, Strong Europe".

If your organisation works in regional or local government, manages EU funds, or contributes to European programmes – this is your chance to host a session at Europe's largest event on cohesion policy.

All the details are available via the link below: who can apply, session formats, the timeline, and what to focus on in your application.

📅 Deadline: 26 April 2026

Apply here 👉 https://link.europa.eu/74WV6Q

European Committee of the Regions

30/03/2026

📊 New County Data Dashboards Launched by NWRA

The NWRA has launched a new County Data Dashboard, giving easy access to up-to-date data across Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, Leitrim, Sligo, Roscommon, Mayo, and Galway.

🔎 Explore insights on:
• Population trends
• Economic development
• Housing
• Climate progress
• Transport

This is a major step towards supporting better planning, stronger funding applications, and smarter decision-making across the region.

👉 Learn more about the NWRA’s County Data Dashboards here https://www.nwra.ie/policy-and-research-publications/

Donegal County Council Leitrim County Council Sligo County Council Monaghan County Council Cavan County Council Roscommon County Council Mayo County Council Galway County Council Galway City Council

27/03/2026

📌 A Special Meeting of the Association of the Irish Regions (AIR) and the OECD took place in City Hall yesterday, Thursday 26th March.

The OECD is are currently embarking on a fact finding mission: “Strengthening Ireland’s regions: Towards a stronger multi-level governance system for improved national performance.”

Members of AIR met with the OECD to share insights, challenges, and opportunities within their regions.

Pictured - Margarida Bandeira Morais (OECD), Miguel Vidal-Bover (OECD), Cllr. Patsy Glennon, Cllr Niall “Botty” O’ Callaghan (Caothairleach, AIR), Cllr. Cllr David Healy, Claire Bannon (Director, EMRA), Conall McGettigan (Director, NWRA)

Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly
OECD

27/03/2026

A wonderful evening at the Embassy of Ireland, London, where Cathaoirleach Michael Frain and Tanya Whyte represented the Northern and Western Region at a special reception celebrating 40 years of Ireland West Airport Knock.

Sincere thank you to Ambassador Martin Fraser and Mrs Deirdre Fraser for the invitation. The event brought together political representatives from the region, members of the IWAK team, and many London based business people with strong Irish roots and connections.

Ireland West Airport Knock has been a lifeline for the West and North West for four decades, supporting travel, tourism, investment, and community links that continue to shape the region’s future.

A proud celebration of an airport that means so much to so many ✈️🇮🇪

Ireland West Airport | Cllr. Micheal Frain | Irish Embassy London| Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage | Irish Foreign Ministry | Aer Lingus | Fáilte Ireland | Ryanair |

26/03/2026

📢 The Northern and Western Regional Assembly has officially commenced the review of the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) 2020–2032, with the intent of making a new strategy, marking the beginning of an important process to shape a new strategy for the region.

👉Your input is important.

📖 Covering counties Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan, Roscommon, Mayo, and Galway, this strategy is a key policy framework guiding long-term (up to 20 years) regional development. It supports the National Planning Framework and aligns with Government economic objectives, grounded in the principles of proper planning and sustainable development.

The RSES will address a wide range of critical areas, including:
📍Sustainable settlement patterns and transport strategies
📍Strategic employment and economic development
📍Housing and population growth
📍Renewable energy and climate action
📍Infrastructure provision such as water, energy (including renewables), communications, and waste
📍Education, healthcare, and sporting facilities at regional scale
📍Environmental protection, landscape and heritage, including the Gaeltacht
📍Coastal, marine, and flood management
📍Integrated land-use and transport planning
📍Planning at regional scale for Galway Metropolitan Area, Regional Growth Centres (Letterkenny, Sligo and Athlone (part) and key towns (to be identified)
📍Implementation and monitoring measures

🖥️ Yes, a lot of work for the team in the coming months!

📧 The pre-draft consultation phase is now open, and the Assembly is inviting submissions from all interested individuals/parties.

Further details on how to participate are available at https://consult.nwra.ie/

🗓️ Deadline for submissions: Friday, 22 May 2026 at 6:00pm.

Please share to help spread the word!

Donegal County Council | Monaghan County Council | Cavan County Council | Leitrim County Council | Sligo County Council | Mayo County Council | Roscommon County Council | Galway City Council | Galway County Council | Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

23/03/2026

🗓️ March Assembly - 20th March 2026 🗓️

📢 Dr. Karl Murphy presented to NWRA elected Members on the URBACT and European Urban Initiative (EUI) programmes. Both programmes support Irish towns and cities of all sizes with regard to challenges around sustainable urban development. Both programmes have currently-open calls which are applicable to all local authorities in the Northern and Western region, including the brand new URBACT call for Actions.

📢 Tanya Whyte, a.Assistant Director/Senior Planner for Planning and Economic Development informed the Members that the commencement of the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy for the region will formally commence on the 26th of March. She also outlined the first statutory stages of this process i.e. pre-draft consultation. Check out our social media and website for further details on this consultation from 26th March.

👏 Thanks to Leitrim County Council who facilitated this meeting.

Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly

URBACT
European Urban Initiative

23/03/2026

💰 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁? 𝗟𝗮𝗯 #4 𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲!

You’ve shaped your idea, built your intervention logic, and structured your workplan – now it’s time to make the numbers work. That’s the focus of 𝗟𝗮𝗯 #4: 𝗚𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁.

📍 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻:
📅 26 March | ⏰ 10.30–12.00 CET

In this hands-on session, you’ll go through how to:
✔️ Build a realistic and coherent project budget
✔️ Understand eligible costs and ERDF co-financing principles
✔️ Align your budget with your workplan and intervention logic
✔️ Avoid common budgeting mistakes

💡 Don’t let finance scare you – with Lab #4, budgeting becomes part of your project’s success story!

👉 Register here: https://urban-initiative.pulse.ly/ew4aecpzl7

Lab #4 is the final Lab in EUI’s support package, guiding you from idea to application. Alongside Thematic Labs, online Q&A sessions, 1-to-1 consultations, and national events, we’ll help ensure your project numbers are as solid as your ideas.

👀 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘀?
Stay tuned – the Call for Call 4 Assessors is launching soon!

23/03/2026

📢 Last Chance to win📢

The final week of the Graduate.ie competition is now LIVE

This is the final chance to win an unforgettable trip to the European Parliament in Strasbourg,

Register or Login Here: www.graduate.ie

Week 20 is now LIVE — the final week of the 2025/2026 Graduate.ie competition.

Your last chance to win an unforgettable trip to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, along with all our weekly winners. Best of luck to everyone taking part this week!

Register or Login Here: www.graduate.ie
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The Graduate.ie programme is sponsored by:
European Parliament
Tipperary County Council
Southern Regional Assembly
Leitrim County Council
Mayo County Council
Louth County Council
Fingal County Council
Health and Safety Authority
Roscommon County Council
Ombudsman for Children's Office
Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment
Clare County Council
Northern & Western Regional Assembly
Communicating Europe
Cavan County Council
Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly
Department of Public Expenditure Infrastructure Public Service Reform and Digitalisation
Fáilte Ireland
Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman - FSPO
CCPC

20/03/2026

🗞️Interesting read focusing on the importance of the collaboration between Ireland's European Digital Innovation Hubs and the Technology Gateway Network.

Learn more at the 'Accelerating your Digital Transformation' event next Wed 25th March. There is still time to register and secure your place at this informative, FREE event: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/accelerate-your-digital-transformation-with-edih-applied-iot-tickets-1983078032779?aff=oddtdtcreator

Ireland’s innovation ecosystem is built on collaboration. For businesses navigating digital transformation, access to the right expertise, facilities and funding is critical. Two key supports available to Irish companies are the Enterprise Ireland Technology Gateway Network and Ireland’s network...

20/03/2026

👉Registration for this insightful FREE event.

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/accelerate-your-digital-transformation-with-edih-applied-iot-tickets-1983078032779?aff=oddtdtcreator&fbclid=IwY2xjawQqTRlleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBueWFNWnRhNWN5WHlqVU91c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHtms_cvE0s5cANImX2LGO5u4j0n5QYyuDMsgrTJJuBcoZofQqjRYvo8t9QUi_aem_Q-BRkW-E2HDXI3I2M777Zg

🚀 Hear first hand from companies that have successfully engaged with the European Digital Innovation Hubs and Applied IoT Technology Gateway cluster at the 'Accelerating your Digital Transformation' event on 25th March 🇮🇪 🇪🇺

WiSAR Lab and Technology Gateway at Atlantic Technological University Donegal has been working with Joygrove Ltd under the Data2Sustain EDIH programme to develop the SmartBodyPatch - a wearable IoT device designed to support the safety and wellbeing of people living with dementia in care home settings. The SmartBodyPatch monitors heart rate (via PPG), skin temperature, humidity, and movement, and uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) geofencing to alert caregivers if a patient wanders beyond a predefined safe zone. Data is transmitted via LoRaWAN to a cloud dashboard, giving care staff real-time and historical visibility of patient vitals and location events.

The engagement with Joygrove began with an Innovation Voucher to explore the feasibility of their concept. The second phase of development under the EDIH programme is focused on building upon that earlier work by validating a working digital prototype ahead of further scaling. It is a good example of the synergy that exists between the various support mechanisms available to companies seeking technology development assistance.

Registration is required for this FREE event. Book your place today: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/accelerate-your-digital-transformation-with-edih-applied-iot-tickets-1983078032779?aff=oddtdtcreator



EU Funds Ireland | Southern Regional Assembly | Northern & Western Regional Assembly | Enterprise Ireland |