All of the Operational Programmes were subject to a Mid-term Evaluation (Note 45) of both co-financed and non-co-financed measures and an Update Evaluation. The Update Evaluation of the BMW Regional OP (Note 46) highlighted a number of lessons for future regional programming which, where possible, have been taken account of in preparing this OP. Regarding overall Programme planning and implementation, these included:
a need for early and proper planning and feasibility assessments where programmes are new or untried;
close examination of likely uptake where Programmes are demand-led;
a need for early planning evidenced by the fact that some of the issues that arose often did not begin to be addressed until the Programme had actually been published and launched; and
the need, in the case of either new or problematic measures, for very focused and dynamic approach to implementation and a willingness to revisit key parameters if they are proving problematic.
With regard to achieving greater impact and value for money, recommendations included:
a need for focus on overall objectives and strategies for measures, and a willingness to change the “fine print” if existing mechanisms are failing to deliver on these. It is also important not to jettison important objectives simply because they prove administratively difficult;
within EU state aid guidelines, an area to consider would be aid rates. If objectives are important and are not eliciting the desired private investor response, an approach would be to adjust aid rates upwards, i.e. to reduce the “price” of participation;
consideration of new forms of delivery where traditional mechanisms may be over-stretched, e.g. more contracting-out of delivery (as distinct from simply grant provision) to non-governmental organisations in both the private and other non-profit sectors; and
revisiting the area of indicators, especially impact indicators for the post-2006 period, including earlier and better definition of these, minimising their number, and central support in the task of developing, monitoring and interpreting them at Programme and measure level.
The Managing Authority recognises the need for early planning particularly for new, innovative and demand-led interventions under the OP. However, in selecting appropriate interventions, the Managing Authority has also been cognisant of the constraints imposed arising from the frontloading of c.80% of commitments in the first three years of the programme (see Chapter 6) and the application of the n+2 rule.
The report of the update evaluation also identified the Evaluator’s views on the areas that should be prioritised for investment under the BMW Regional OP 2007-13. These have been cross-referenced with the selected interventions in sections 3.13 and 3.14 above.
Note 45 Fitzpatrick Associates (2003) Mid Term Evaluation of the Border, Midland and Western Regional Programme Operational Programme http://www.bmwassembly.ie/news/reports/BMW_Final_Report_03_09_03.pdf
Note 46 Fitzpatrick Associates (2005) Update Evaluation of the Border, Midland and Western Regional Programme Operational Programme http://www.bmwassembly.ie/news/reports/BMW%20Update%20Evaluation.doc
