Mr. Andrew McGuinness:

As cathaoirleach of the Southern Regional Assembly, I welcome the opportunity to present to the committee today on the work of the Southern Regional Assembly with regard to EU affairs. As with our colleagues in the eastern and midland and northern and western regional assemblies, we play an important role in regional development through the statutory regional spatial and economic strategies and the important complementary role of designing, implementing and monitoring EU-funded programmes. Both of these functions are set out in our establishment order which requires also that the design of these EU programmes be consistent with the objectives of and contribute to the implementation of the RSES.

This dual approach is essential to ensure that EU regional funding is targeted and directed to where it can have most long-term impact at regional level. The Southern Regional Assembly has been a managing authority for four successive regional programmes, with an investment of over €1 billion in EU funds. We are currently managing the ERDF co-funded Southern, Eastern and Midland Regional Programme 2021-2027. This programme is investing €663 million in the two regions within the programme area, €265 million from the ERDF and €398 million of national funding. This is supporting activities in the areas of research and innovation, in particular in the new technological universities, energy efficiency in housing for those at risk of fuel poverty, and sustainable urban regeneration through the town centre first heritage revival, THRIVE, scheme.

Our objective, both in designing this programme and managing its implementation, is that the programme responds to local and regional needs, and that it plays its part in reducing regional disparities and promoting balanced economic, social and territorial development. The Southern Regional Assembly also supports local authorities, third level institutes, enterprise and community groups to access EU funding, in particular through European territorial co-operation programmes, otherwise known as INTERREG. This funding is competitive and the regional assemblies play a key role in supporting Irish applicants to secure funding in two ways. First, by having a voice on the monitoring committees for INTERREG programmes, the regional assemblies can ensure that Irish national and regional objectives are taken into account during the design of the funding calls and the selection of projects. Second, the regional assemblies have a dedicated staff member each, working as INTERREG contact points. The contact points support Irish organisations applying to competitive INTERREG calls, giving them advice and linking them with partners overseas.

Partners from local communities and development groups, local authorities, universities, start-up companies and many more have all benefited greatly from participating in these EU programmes. We believe Irish partners can do better, and we have two specific proposals that would support this goal. The first is to ensure greater capacity within the local government sector to support EU engagement. We had evidence that local authorities which have resources in place are more successful in securing EU funding. The second is to provide greater support for civil society organisations, including match-funding. Member states that provide this extra support enjoy very high success rates, for example, the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium.

Looking ahead, the European Commission's draft for the 2028–2034 multi-annual financial framework was published in July 2025. The proposal, which brings a wide range of funds together under a single national and regional partnership plan, poses significant risks of diluting a core principle of the EU, which is economic, social and territorial cohesion. This new proposal aims for a one-size-fits-all design and management approach to regional development, as well as a merging of programmes, while also giving national governments centralised control over their allocation. It is worth noting that the Irish approach to local and regional government is already quite centralised. The assemblies have worked very well with the member states and Government Departments on the management of EU funding to date, and we hope this will continue. However, the Commission's proposal to further centralise funding decisions relating to regional development poses a risk of disenfranchising those tasked with, and closest to, regional needs and long-term objectives. Ireland's regions could potentially lose out if the voices and priorities of the regions are not heard and not involved in delivery of cohesion policy on the ground.

I know most members have come from a local authority background. Some, including the Chair, have served on regional assemblies. I am sure they appreciate the points we are trying to make here. I believe we are collectively making the same points, which is important. We are ready and willing to continue our work and we ask that the voice of the regions be considered during the negotiations with the European Parliament and national government to ensure the best outcome for regional development in the evolving EU.