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Regional assemblies

Regional assemblies are responsible for making decisions on strategic planning and EU funding for their region. The assemblies help to co-ordinate the work of local authorities.

In this section

There are three regional assemblies in Ireland:

  • Northern and Western region
  • Southern region
  • Eastern and Midlands region

Regional assemblies are made up of members elected to councils within the region.

What is the role of the regional assembly?

Regional assemblies are responsible for co-ordinating and promoting strategic planning and sustainable development in their region and encouraging local authorities to work together for the benefit of the entire region. 

Assemblies set goals for the region and make decisions on how funding and resources should be used, with a particular focus on economic and spatial planning, and EU funding. 

Economic and spatial planning

Part of the strategic planning role of the assembly is to plan how land and resources are used in the region. They do this by developing Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies which lays out the long-term plan for meeting challenges such as population growth and climate change. These strategies then influence plans at local authority level. 

EU funding 

Regional assemblies play a role in managing and delivering funding under EU programmes such as the European Regional Development Fund. Assemblies will decide where to invest the money from this fund to support development in the region. 

What areas are covered by regional assemblies?

Every local authority area is covered by a Regional Assembly. The number of members in the regional assembly depends on the number and size of the local authorities it covers. 

  • Northern and Western Region – 21 members from
    • Cavan County Council, Donegal County Council, Leitrim County Council, Galway County Council, Galway City Council, Mayo County Council, Monaghan County Council, Roscommon County Council, and Sligo County Council. 
  • Southern Region – 27 members from
    • Carlow County Council, Clare County Council, Cork County Council, Cork City Council, Kerry County Council, Kilkenny County Council, Limerick City and County Council, Tipperary County Council, Waterford City and County Council and Wexford County Council
  • Eastern and Midland Region – 35 members from
    • Dublin City Council, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Fingal County Council, Kildare County Council, Laois County Council, Longford County Council, Louth County Council, Meath County Council, Offaly County Council, South Dublin County Council, Westmeath County Council, and Wicklow County Council

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