Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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576. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the engagement he has had with the Northern and Western Assembly ahead of the new round of the European Regional Development Fund in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43919/20]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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On the 22^ndof October 2020 I announced that the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Operational Programme 2021 - 2027 for the Northern & Western region would be managed by the Northern Western Regional Assembly (NWRA).

Prior to this announcement the NWRA, in conjunction with officials from my Department, played a very active role in the process of programming for the 2021 - 2027 round.

The NWRA are represented on the Partnership Process Steering Group, which guides and advises on the programming of all of the European Structural Investment Fund (ESIF) programmes, through the development process of the Partnership Agreement for the period 2021 - 2027.

The Steering Group oversaw the development of a Needs Analysis by Indecon Economic Consultants, which specifically looked at regional development needs, including the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies (RSES). This was completed in July 2020.

The NWRA, along with the other two Regional Assemblies, are also part of a working group which launched a public consultation process to inform the selection of priorities for the use of EU funding for the next period. This included a virtual seminar, organised by the Regional Assemblies. It was attended by over 100 participants, and included break out groups focusing on the specific needs of each region. 109 written submissions were also received in the course of the public consultation. A report of the public consultation was prepared, and was published in November 2020.

In December 2020 the Regional Assemblies oversaw the production of a paper setting out high level priorities for the 2021 - 2027 ERDF Operational Programmes. These priorities have emerged from the Regional strategies (RSES), the Needs Analysis in relation to ERDF and the public consultation.

Three main Themes or priorities were identified:

- Smart cities, smart regions: ERDF should support innovation, digitisation, economic transformation and small and medium-sized businesses in keeping with smart specialisation strategies to support sustainable economic development and offer the population places where they can live and work.

- Low-carbon and climate resilience: ERDF should help Ireland and its regions fight against climate change and protect the environment, which will in turn improve the overall quality of life.

- Urban dimension: ERDF should support the development of Irish towns and cities through an integrated approach combining the three following dimensions: green, smart and people-focused.

Based on the three thematic areas identified, the NWRA in collaboration with the other two Regional Assemblies, are currently in the process of extensive engagement with government departments to develop proposals for the ERDF Operational Programme for the region. I look forward to receiving those proposals in the coming weeks. Following these engagements drafting will begin on the Operational Programmes. It is intended that there will be a further public consultation at that stage.

Following the public consultation and any necessary revisions arising from it, it is intended to bring the draft programmes for approval to Government, at which stage it will be submitted to the European Commission for approval.