New Regional Governance for I reland: The Challenges & Opportunities Ahead

1. New Regional Governance for Ireland: The Challenges & Opportunities Ahead Stephen Blair Director

2. Outline of Presentation • Background to Regional Reform • Outline of Government proposals for regional reorganisation • Challenges to be faced • Opportunities to be sought

3. Background to Reform • Local Government Reform Act, 2014 • Operating Environment • Scarce resources • Effectiveness & Efficiency • Avoidance of duplication • Political reform • Deficiencies in planning system needing reform.

4. Outline of Government Reform Proposals for Regional Tier • Rationalisation of regional structures/bodies • Reduce number of Regional Authorities/Assemblies • Reduce number of Elected Members • Reconfigure geography of regions • Eliminate duplication of functions between Regional Authorities & Assemblies • Combine regional spatial planning with regional economic planning, and with European Regional Policy

5. Regional Reorganisation Proposals • Abolish the 8 Regional Authorities • Reconfigure the 2 Regional Assemblies into 3 Regional Assemblies by the creation of a new Eastern & Midlands region • Transfer the existing Regional Planning functions from the former Regional Authorities to the existing, and in time new regional Assemblies • Enhance and strengthen the regional planning function by integrating it with economic planning • Reduce the number of Members of Assemblies to be nominated by the constituent Local Authorities • Forge new links between the Committee of Regions & Regional Assemblies

6. Reorganisation Proposals cont/ • Due to lack of clarity within government on geography of new regions, the reorganisation proposals had to be conducted in two phases: • Phase 1 – 1st June 2014 abolition of regional authorities and transfer of their assets, liabilities and staff to two existing Regional Assemblies. Also transfer of their functions relating to Regional Planning Guidelines. • All of this undertaken by way of Statutory Instrument (S.I. No 228 of 2014)

7. Regional Reorganisation cont/ • Phase 2 – dissolution of two existing regional assemblies and the establishment of three new Assemblies: • Northern & Western • Southern • Eastern & Midlands • This is to take effect on the 1st January next, although the Establishment Order to give legal effect to this has not as yet been signed by the Minister.

8. Map of 3 New Regional Assemblies

9. Main Functions of new Regional Assemblies • Although the precise functions of the new Assemblies are not known yet pending the publishing of the underpinning Statutory Instrument, based on the content of the Local Government Reform Act and on the existing Orders relating to the Regional Assemblies, it is anticipated that the principal functions will entail:

10. Principal Functions of new Regional Assemblies • To co-ordinate, promote or support strategic planning and sustainable development of the regions • To promote effectiveness in local government and public services in the region, in conjunction with the National Oversight & Audit Commission • To manage Regional Operational Programmes under the Partnership Agreement as well as monitoring and making proposals in relation to the general impact in their regions of all EU programmes of assistance from the EU. • To prepare and oversee the implementation of the Regional Planning Guidelines, to be replaced by new Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies, and providing statutory observations on local authority development plans and variations.

11. Progress on Implementation of reform proposals • Phase 1 largely complete with orderly wind-down of former Regional Authorities & transfer of regional planning function to Assemblies • Draft secondary legislation well advanced within Department • Workforce Plans for three Assemblies now agreed by DoECLG & D/PER • Recruitment to fill vacant/new posts to commence shortly • H.Q. for Eastern & Midlands region being sourced.

12. Challenges arising from Regional Reform • Logistical challenges – new organisations, new members, new regions, etc. • Resource challenges – both financial and human • Procedural challenges – new procedures to be followed, new structures to be put in place • Political challenges – new elected members, new dynamics; relationships with centre, etc. • Functional challenges – particularly the new competence area of regional spatial and economic strategies • Statistical challenges – miss-match between new Assembly Regions & NUTS Classification

13. Challenges on delivering on new regional planning & economic development functions • External challenges – getting buy in from both central government (line departments & state agencies) and from local government. Also require revamped National Planning Framework to be put in place with statutory backing • Ensuring that the preparation of RSES is truly a co-production between Assemblies and key actors & that strategies have implementation procedures built in from start with associated budgets and delivery responsibilities pre-defined. • Internal challenges – ensuring that the right team of professionals (both in regional planning and economic development) are put in place within Regional Assemblies to deliver on new mandate.

14. Other Challenges in Regional Planning Sphere • Bedding in the new RSES and LECP processes in a complementary manner, e.g., through proposed NUTS III economic for a • Getting the balance right between NUTS II and NUTS III and LA area economic planning • Addressing widening inter-regional and intra-regional disparities in economic performance – who is responsible for co-ordinating the role of Government, regional and local levels? • The need for increased ‘regional’ thinking within central Government and national agencies– continued absence of a Minister with an explicit regional development brief

15. Opportunities for New Regional Structures • There are many new opportunities presented through the regional reform process. Some of the more significant opportunities would include: • Opportunity to finally put in place properly resourced and staffed regional bodies to deliver on the new significant roles and responsibilities provided by legislation • Having greater regional input into policy formulation at central government level through much higher and deeper active engagement necessitated through the RSES process • Achieving increased regional differentiation in policy delivery, aligned with new concepts such as ‘smart specialisation’ and ‘place-making’

16. Opportunities cont/ • Ensuring that cities and other designated growth centres become more effective drivers of the regional economy • Moving from a ‘physical planning and economic objectives’ focus of the RPGs to more dynamic ‘regional economic development and investment strategies’ • More effective enforcement of regional planning guidelines in the context of anticipated resumption of construction activity • Enhancing regional capacity to identify, evaluate, prioritise and promote successful regional development initiatives and become more effective policy influencers

17. Contact Details • Stephen Blair • Director • Southern & Eastern Regional Assembly • Assembly House, O'Connell Street, Waterford   Phone: 051 860700 • Email: sblair@seregassembly.ie • Web: www.seregassembly.ie