The Managing Authority undertook a preliminary consultation process to assist in the identification of priorities and candidate interventions for inclusion in the draft Operational Programme between February and July 2006. This process included meetings with Government Departments and Agencies, consultation with the Regional OP Monitoring Committee (which includes representatives of the social partner pillars), Regional Assembly Members, Local Authority Managers, Local Development Bodies and the Heads of the Region's Higher Education Institutions. The preparation of this Operational Programme has benefited from:
the outcomes of the BMW Regional Foresight exercise (note 8), published in 2005 and of the Audit of Innovation (note 9) in the BMW Region, published in 2004;
consultations with local, regional and national agencies and higher education institutions;
discussions with Government Departments and the intermediary bodies that operate under their remit;
a wide range of EU and national studies and reports and the evaluations of the Programmes funded under the NDP/CSF 2000-2006;
the strategic framework provided by the NSRF;
the recommendations arising from the SEA process;
the findings and recommendations arising from the Ex Ante Evaluation of the draft Regional OP;
discussions with the EU Commission services; and
submissions made during the formal consultation phase.
Following the preparation of the draft programme, the Managing Authority placed notices in the national press, advising the public of the consultation process and the availability of the programme documents on the Managing Authority's website. In addition, and in accordance with Article 11 of the General Regulation, regarding the engagement of appropriate partners in the preparation of Operational Programmes, the Managing Authority circulated draft copies of this Operational Programme and Environmental Report, prepared in compliance with the SEA Directive, to the following on January 12th 2007:
All relevant Departments and Intermediary Bodies;
Higher Education Institutions in the BMW Region;
Elected members of the BMW Regional Assembly (29);
BMW Regional OP Monitoring Committee, including social partner representatives and Advisors (45);
Heads of Public Bodies represented on the Operational Committee of the BMW Regional Assembly (34);
Environmental Authorities (3) specified in the SEA legislation;
Regional Authorities (3);
Local Authorities (14);
Department of Finance and its Central Expenditure Evaluation Unit;
Other Managing Authorities (4); and
Horizontal Interests: Gender, Equality, Social Inclusion (3).
A full list of the organisations with whom meetings were held during the programme preparation and of the submissions received is provided in Annex 3. The Operational Programme will be complemented by detailed implementation plans to be prepared for each intervention.
(Note 8) Border, Midland and Western Regional Assembly (2005) New Challenges New Opportunities: Report of the Border, Midland and Western Regional Foresight Exercise 2005-2025 http://www.bmwassembly.ie/innovative_actions/InnovativeActions_docs/ForesightReportAmended_130905.pdf
(Note 9) Border, Midland and Western Regional Assembly (2004) Audit of Innovation in the BMW Region http://www.bmwassembly.ie/innovative_actions/Audit_Reports_2004.htm
