Northern & Western Regional Assembly

25/09/2025

25/09/2025

At the Annual General Meeting of the Association of Irish Regions (AIR):

👏 Cllr Niall Botty O’Callaghan (Kerry County Council) was elected as Cathaoirleach
👏 Cllr Dermot Lacey (Dublin City Council) was elected as Leas-Chathaoirleach

Wishing them every success in their new roles and looking forward to continued collaboration with the Association of Irish Regions, Irish Regions European Office, and the three Regional Assemblies🤝.

📸 Right to Left; Cllr Peggy Ryan (Tipperary County Council), Cllr Máirín McGrath (Tipperary County Council), Cllr Niall "Botty" O'Callaghan (Kerry County Council), Cllr Declan McDonnell (Galway City Council), Cllr Jack Murray (Donegal County Council), & Cllr Dermot Lacey (Dublin City Council).

Information and photos from the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly.

24/09/2025

Tanya Whyte, A/Assistant Director at the NWRA is in Brussels & Leuven this week with a delegation from the West and North West of Ireland as part of the European Engagement Programme hosted by the Western Development Commission in partnership with the Irish College Leuven.

The delegation met with Teresa Lennon, Head of the Irish Regions European Office in Brussels to learn how they support Irish Councillors at the European Committee of the Regions who serve as the 'voice of the regions and cities' in the European Union during the development of EU legislation.

As part of the visit, Tanya also had the opportunity to meet with Theo Halpin and Tsvyatko Velikov from the DG REGIO at the European Commission in Brussels today to discuss the development of the region through sustainable and effective planning and the investment of ERDF funding into the Northern and Western Region.

24/09/2025

EUinMyRegion 🇮🇪🇪🇺

24/09/2025

The NWRA recently published a report on the 'Status of Priority Infrastructure Projects of Scale'. The report found that only 14 out of 35 identified priority infrastructure projects in the region are likely to be ‘shovel ready’ for delivery by 2030.

This report builds on the NWRA’s June 2025 briefing to Oireachtas members and responds to the Government’s Initial National Development Plan (NDP) Review published in July 2025.

Read the status report and full press release here: https://www.nwra.ie/nwra-report-highlights-delays-in-delivery-of-key-infrastructure-across-northern-western-region/

24/09/2025

Job opportunity to work at the Irish Regions European Office (IREO) in Brussels 🇧🇪.

The Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly (EMRA) are now recruiting an EU Policy Officer based in Brussels, more details and application forms available on the EMRA website: https://www.emra.ie/careers/
The closing date is 5pm on Friday the 24th of October 2025.

Southern Regional Assembly

23/09/2025

👏 Congratulations to Milo Kilgallon from Summerhill College, Sligo and Dylan Hickey from Ennis Community College, Clare for winning this unique opportunity to participate on an educational trip to the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Our first winners of the 2025/2026 Graduate.ie Competition has just been announced!!
Huge congratulations to:

Milo Kilgallon from Cic Summerhill
Prize Sponsored By: Northern & Western Regional Assembly

Dylan Hickey from Ennis Community College
Prize Sponsored By: Ombudsman for Children's Office

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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 the Environment, Climate and Communications
Clare County Council
Northern & Western Regional Assembly
Communicating Europe
Cavan County Council
Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly
Department of Public Expenditure
Fáilte Ireland

23/09/2025

The West has landed in Brussels!

This week, Western Development Commission brings stakeholders from across the West and North West of Ireland to Brussels for the European Engagement Programme 2025, in partnership with the Irish College Leuven.

Now in its second year, this initiative supports organisations across our region to:

• Build capacity to access EU funding streams
• Deepen understanding of EU policy and decision-making
• Network with European partners and institutions

Over three days, participants will engage in workshops, site visits, and networking sessions, with themes including Green & Sustainability, before concluding with visits to the European Commission, Committee of the Regions, and European Parliament.

By connecting local authorities, government departments, and regional networks such as NWRA and ERNACT with European opportunities, we are helping to ensure that the West and North West of Ireland is strongly positioned to benefit from EU funding and collaboration.

This programme, which began in 2024, continues into 2025 and will conclude with a final iteration in 2026, building a lasting bridge between our region and Europe.

PorterShed Leitrim County Council Clare County Council Northern & Western Regional Assembly Atlantic Technological University Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht

23/09/2025

RISE@ATU is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the ERDF Northern and Western Regional Programme 2021-27.

For more information on the ERDF programme for the Northern and Western Region, visit: https://www.nwra.ie/erdf/northern-and-western-regional-programme-2021-2027/

🇮🇪🇪🇺

23/09/2025

The NWRA were delighted to meet so many people in the EU tent at the National Ploughing Championships and talk about the impact of EU funding in our region. We look forward to seeing you all again next year! 🚜

The EU presence at the National Ploughing Championships 2025 was a huge success! Our tent themed "Go Circular - Grow Organic" attracted thousands of visitors...

23/09/2025

The deadline is on Friday and your insights will directly influence how the Green Enterprise Pilot Scheme will support the growth of sustainable enterprise in our region.

The Northern and Western Regional Assembly (NWRA), in partnership with Atlantic Technological University (ATU), is designing the Green Enterprise Pilot Scheme (GEPS) – an ERDF-funded initiative to support SMEs developing low-carbon technologies, products, and processes.

What is GEPS?
• Tiered grant funding for SMEs.
• Supports projects from proof of concept to demonstration in a relevant environment.
• Focus on commercialisation potential & environmental impact.
• Calls expected Q4 2025.

Why your input matters

We need SMEs and networks to help us shape GEPS so that it truly meets the needs of the region’s sustainable enterprises.
Take part in our Needs Analysis Survey to:
✔ Share the types of projects your SME would propose.
✔ Indicate the funding and co-financing required.
✔ Highlight opportunities and constraints for participation.
Link to form: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/6g1E9nXrxC
Deadline: 26th of September 2025.
Your insights will directly influence how GEPS supports the growth of sustainable enterprise in the Northern and Western Region.

The Green Enterprise Pilot Scheme is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the ERDF Northern and Western Regional Programme 2021-27

22/09/2025

Local Authorities and stakeholders working on Integrated and place-based sustainable urban development strategies have the opportunity to learn from other EU regions.

The European Urban Initiative (EUI) is hosting an online Info Session on the call for applications to participate in (1) Peer Reviews and (2) City-to-City Exchanges.

🗓️ Date: September 25, 2025
⏰ Time: 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM Irish Time

During this session, you'll hear from representatives from EUI and the European Commission, as well as past beneficiaries who will share their experiences.

🔗 Register here: https://www.urban-initiative.eu/events/online-info-session-peer-reviews-and-city-city-exchanges