Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why was the BMW Regional Assembly established?
The Border, Midland and Western Regional Assembly was established by the Government on 21st July, 1999 arising from the designation of two NUTS II regions within Ireland for EU structural funds purposes.  The BMW region retained full objective 1 status, with higher rates of EU aid for the 2000-2006 period, while the Southern and Eastern region qualified for transitional funding.  For the 2007-13 structural funds period the BMW region qualifies for transitional phasing-in support as an objective 2 (Regional Competitiveness and Employment) region.

2. How is the Regional Assembly elected?
The BMW Regional Assembly comprises 29 elected members from the 14 constituent local authorities (13 County Councils and Galway City Council), within the BMW Region.  In order to be nominated as a member of the Regional Assembly a Councillor must have already been nominated as a member of a Regional Authority.

3. What is the BMW Region?
The Border, Midland and Western Region consists of the following 13 counties: Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Louth, Monaghan, Sligo (Border region) Laois,  Longford, Offaly, Westmeath (Midlands region) Galway, Mayo, Roscommon (West region).

4. What is the role of the BMW Regional Assembly?
The role of the BMW Assembly is to:

• Manage and oversee the implementation of the BMW Regional Operational Programmes 2000-06 and 2007-13.

• Monitor the impact of EU and national programmes within the BMW Region

• Promote the co-ordination of public services within the Region

• Ensure that national policies take regional issues into account

The BMW Regional Assembly also acts as the national contact point for Interreg programmes and manages Regional Programmes of Innovative Actions.

5. What are Structural Funds?
Structural Funds and Cohesion Funds are funds allocated by the EU to support the poorer regions of Europe.  The two funds are the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF).  The role of the ERDF is to promote investment and correct regional imbalances in the EU through investment in infrastructure, productive investment, innovation and environmental risk prevention.  The role of the ESF is to support Member States’ actions in improving the adaptability of workers and enterprises, increasing access to employment, re-inforcing equality and social inclusion and investing in human capital.

The ERDF also supports the Cohesion Fund (no longer applicable to Ireland) and the European Territorial Co-operation objective (Interreg) Programmes.

6. What is an Operational Programme?
The Operational Programme is a document which sets out the approved investment programme for the Region which is to be co-funded by the EU. It includes a socio-economic and environmental analysis, investment priorities; targets and impacts, a summary description of proposed interventions, implementation arrangements and a financing plan.

7. Does the BMW Regional Assembly provide direct funding?
The BMW Regional Assembly does not directly allocate the funding that is included in the Regional Operational Programmes. Funding is provided through the various Implementing Departments and Agencies which are detailed in the Operational Programme.

Under the Regional Programme of Innovative Actions some funding is available up to December 2007 to support pilot initiatives. 

8. How much funding is available from the BMW Regional OP 2007-13?
The total funding which is available is €572m which includes €229m in ERDF funding with the balance made up of National Exchequer funding, Local Authority and Private Matching Funding.

9. Where do I get more information?
Email: info@bmwassembly.ie or Phone: 094 9862970/9862971/9862972