“BMW Regional Assembly Celebrates 10th Anniversary”

The 10th Anniversary Annual Report of the Border Midland and Western Regional Assembly was officially launched by Mr. Dara Calleary T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment in the Regional Assembly Chamber in Ballaghaderreen , 1st October 2009.

The milestones achieved by the Regional Assembly were presented at the launch by Mr. Gerry Finn, Director of the BMW Regional Assembly. These included overseeing the implementation of the €4bn Regional Operational Programme 2000-06 and managing the preparation and negotiation of the new Regional Programme 2007-13, both co-financed by the EU structural funds. Key achievements had been the €1.3bn investment in non-national roads, the improvement in water services for over 380,000 people and the roll-out of broadband infrastructure across the BMW Region. Other highlights had been the investment in 44 tourism projects, the level of job creation by the County Enterprise Boards and the huge increase in childcare services provision in the Region.

Mr. Finn informed the launch that the Regional Assembly had played an important role in advocating regional investment across many sectors and had held regular meetings with Government Ministers and Senior Officials. The Assembly was also active in undertaking research projects in order to prioritise regional investment. Mr. Finn also stated that Assembly had managed two regional programmes of innovative actions involving the implementation of 12 initiatives, many of which had been taken up and administered nationally, such as the research voucher scheme. He also outlined the Assembly’s role as National Contact Point for two trans-national Interreg programmes.

Addressing the elected members and public officials present, Minister Calleary stated that the 10th Anniversary Report highlighted the transformation that had occurred across the BMW Region over the past 10 years, with the support of EU structural funds. Minister Calleary also stated that the Regional Operational Programmes had addressed many of the fundamental disadvantages that the BMW Region had faced in the past and that it is now much better placed to take advantage of the new opportunities that exist in sectors such as renewable energy. He also reiterated the Government’s commitment to continued investment in the SME sector.

Minister Calleary, a former member of the Monitoring Committee for the BMW Regional Operational Programme paid tribute to the work of the Regional Assembly and complimented the staff and elected members for their contribution to regional development over the past 10 years. He stated that organisations like the BMW Regional Assembly should continue to push the boundaries of regional policy in Ireland and ensure that all of the region’s resources are utilised to their full advantage, building on the foundations that have now been well established.

Cathaoirleach of the BMW Regional Assembly, Councillor Andrew Boylan (Cavan) acknowledged the positive support that Minister Calleary had expressed for the work of the Regional Assembly. Councillor Boylan also acknowledged the positive contribution of the European Union to Irish regions and called for a positive outcome to the Lisbon Treaty Referendum.

Download the Ten Year Report

Visit the Ten Year Website