FAQs

1. What is the Southern & Eastern Regional Assembly?

The Southern & Eastern Regional Assembly was established by the Government on 21st July, 1999 and consists of 41 elected members from the constituent local authorities, within the Southern & Eastern Region.

2. What is the Southern & Eastern Region?

The Southern & Eastern Region consists of the following counties within the 5 Regional Authority areas: Dublin City, Dun Laoghraire/Rathdown, Fingal, South Dublin (Dublin Region); Carlow, Tipperary S.R., Waterford City and County, Wexford, Kilkenny (South-East Region); Cork City and County, Kerry (South-West Region); Clare, Limerick City and County, Tipperary N.R. (Mid-West Region); Kildare, Meath, Wicklow (Mid-East Region).

3. What is the role of the Southern & Eastern Regional Assembly?

The Role of the Southern & Eastern Regional Assembly is to

• Oversee the Southern & Eastern Regional Operational Programme under the National Development Plan.
• Monitor the impact of EU programmes under the National Development Plan/Community Support Framework framework within the Southern & Eastern Region
• Promote the co-ordination of public services within the Region

4. What are Structural Funds?

Structural Funds consist of 4 European Funds:

• ERDF (European Regional Development Fund)
• ESF (European Social Fund)
• EAGGF (European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund)
• FIFG (Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance) - which are distributed to the lesser developed Regions within Europe.

5. What is Objective 1 Status?

Objective 1 Status is designated by the EU to Regions that are lagging behind economically and have a Gross Domestic Product per capita of less than 75% of the EU average. The Southern & Eastern Region qualifies for Objective 1 in Transition Status which means a phasing out regime of Structural Funds over the six year period up to the end of 2005. However, the South East Region, which is made up of Carlow, Tipperary S.R., Waterford City & County, Wexford and Kilkenny qualifies for Objective 1 one status for the full period up to end of 2006 due to its lower GDP.

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 investment priorities; targets and impacts, details of priorities and a summary description of measures, implementation arrangements and an overall financing plan.

7. What is a Programme Complement?

The Programme Complement is the document which sets out the detailed elements for each of the Schemes/Measures. It includes the objectives for each measure, detailed implementation arrangements and financial plans, selection criteria, financial management and evidence of compliance with relevant policies and regulations.

8. Does the Southern & Eastern Regional Assembly provide direct funding?

Generally no Funding is available for the Southern & Eastern Regional Operational Programme through the various Implementing Bodies/Departments which are detailed in the Programme Complement. However, the Southern & Eastern Regional Assembly was approved ERDF funding of €2.6m from the European Commission for the Southern & Eastern Regional Innovative Action Programme (SERIAP). Also the Regional Assembly is a Measure Leader for the Ireland-Wales INTERREG Programme.

9. How much funding is available from Southern & Eastern Regional Programme?

The total funding which is available is €5,378.72m (IR£4,236m) which is made up of EU Structural Funds, National Exchequer funding, Local Authority and Private Matching Funding.

10. Where do I get more information?

Contact info@seregassembly.ie or Telephone 051 - 860700