New Regional Governance for
Ireland: The Challenges &
Opportunities Ahead
Stephen Blair
Director
Outline of Presentation
• Background to Regional Reform
• Outline of Government proposals for regional
reorganisation
• Challenges to be faced
• Opportunities to be sought
Background to Reform
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Local Government Reform Act, 2014
Operating Environment
Scarce resources
Effectiveness & Efficiency
Avoidance of duplication
Political reform
Deficiencies in planning system needing
reform.
Outline of Government Reform
Proposals for Regional Tier
• Rationalisation of regional structures/bodies
• Reduce number of Regional
Authorities/Assemblies
• Reduce number of Elected Members
• Reconfigure geography of regions
• Eliminate duplication of functions between
Regional Authorities & Assemblies
• Combine regional spatial planning with regional
economic planning, and with European Regional
Policy
Regional Reorganisation Proposals
• Abolish the 8 Regional Authorities
• Reconfigure the 2 Regional Assemblies into 3 Regional
Assemblies by the creation of a new Eastern & Midlands
region
• Transfer the existing Regional Planning functions from the
former Regional Authorities to the existing, and in time
new regional Assemblies
• Enhance and strengthen the regional planning function by
integrating it with economic planning
• Reduce the number of Members of Assemblies to be
nominated by the constituent Local Authorities
• Forge new links between the Committee of Regions &
Regional Assemblies
Reorganisation Proposals cont/
• Due to lack of clarity within government on
geography of new regions, the reorganisation
proposals had to be conducted in two phases:
• Phase 1 – 1st June 2014 abolition of regional
authorities and transfer of their assets, liabilities
and staff to two existing Regional Assemblies.
Also transfer of their functions relating to
Regional Planning Guidelines.
• All of this undertaken by way of Statutory
Instrument (S.I. No 228 of 2014)
Regional Reorganisation cont/
• Phase 2 – dissolution of two existing regional
assemblies and the establishment of three new
Assemblies:
• Northern & Western
• Southern
• Eastern & Midlands
• This is to take effect on the 1st January next,
although the Establishment Order to give legal
effect to this has not as yet been signed by the
Minister.
Map of 3 New Regional Assemblies
Main Functions of new Regional
Assemblies
• Although the precise functions of the new
Assemblies are not known yet pending the
publishing of the underpinning Statutory
Instrument, based on the content of the Local
Government Reform Act and on the existing
Orders relating to the Regional Assemblies, it
is anticipated that the principal functions will
entail:
Principal Functions of new Regional
Assemblies
• To co-ordinate, promote or support strategic planning and
sustainable development of the regions
• To promote effectiveness in local government and public
services in the region, in conjunction with the National
Oversight & Audit Commission
• To manage Regional Operational Programmes under the
Partnership Agreement as well as monitoring and making
proposals in relation to the general impact in their regions of
all EU programmes of assistance from the EU.
• To prepare and oversee the implementation of the Regional
Planning Guidelines, to be replaced by new Regional Spatial
and Economic Strategies, and providing statutory
observations on local authority development plans and
Progress on Implementation of reform
proposals
• Phase 1 largely complete with orderly wind-down
of former Regional Authorities & transfer of
regional planning function to Assemblies
• Draft secondary legislation well advanced within
Department
• Workforce Plans for three Assemblies now agreed
by DoECLG & D/PER
• Recruitment to fill vacant/new posts to
commence shortly
• H.Q. for Eastern & Midlands region being
sourced.
Challenges arising from Regional
Reform
• Logistical challenges – new organisations, new
members, new regions, etc.
• Resource challenges – both financial and human
• Procedural challenges – new procedures to be
followed, new structures to be put in place
• Political challenges – new elected members, new
dynamics; relationships with centre, etc.
• Functional challenges – particularly the new
competence area of regional spatial and economic
strategies
• Statistical challenges – miss-match between new
Assembly Regions & NUTS Classification
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Challenges on delivering on new
regional planning & economic
development
functions
External challenges – getting buy in from both central
government (line departments & state agencies) and from
local government. Also require revamped National Planning
Framework to be put in place with statutory backing
• Ensuring that the preparation of RSES is truly a coproduction between Assemblies and key actors & that
strategies have implementation procedures built in from
start with associated budgets and delivery responsibilities
pre-defined.
• Internal challenges – ensuring that the right team of
professionals (both in regional planning and economic
development) are put in place within Regional Assemblies
to deliver on new mandate.
Other Challenges in Regional Planning
Sphere
• Bedding in the new RSES and LECP processes in a
complementary manner, e.g., through proposed NUTS III
economic for a
• Getting the balance right between NUTS II and NUTS III and LA
area economic planning
• Addressing widening inter-regional and intra-regional
disparities in economic performance – who is responsible for
co-ordinating the role of Government, regional and local
levels?
• The need for increased ‘regional’ thinking within central
Government and national agencies– continued absence of a
Minister with an explicit regional development brief
Opportunities for New Regional
Structures
• There are many new opportunities presented through the
regional reform process. Some of the more significant
opportunities would include:
 Opportunity to finally put in place properly resourced and
staffed regional bodies to deliver on the new significant
roles and responsibilities provided by legislation
 Having greater regional input into policy formulation at
central government level through much higher and deeper
active engagement necessitated through the RSES process
 Achieving increased regional differentiation in policy
delivery, aligned with new concepts such as ‘smart
specialisation’ and ‘place-making’
Opportunities cont/
 Ensuring that cities and other designated growth centres
become more effective drivers of the regional economy
 Moving from a ‘physical planning and economic objectives’
focus of the RPGs to more dynamic ‘regional economic
development and investment strategies’
 More effective enforcement of regional planning guidelines
in the context of anticipated resumption of construction
activity
 Enhancing regional capacity to identify, evaluate, prioritise
and promote successful regional development initiatives
and become more effective policy influencers
Contact Details
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Stephen Blair
Director
Southern & Eastern Regional Assembly
Assembly House, O'Connell Street, Waterford
Phone: 051 860700
• Email: sblair@seregassembly.ie
• Web: www.seregassembly.ie