Planning & Economic Development

The Regional Assembly plays a significant role in planning and economic development, acting as a key intermediary between national policies and local implementation to ensure that regional development is strategic, coordinated, and sustainable.

Through the making and implementation of Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies (RSES), the Regional Assembly strives to ensure that regional priorities and local needs are addressed cohesively. A Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy is a planning and economic framework that considers the future development of the region for a period of not less than 12 years and not more than 20 years.

The first RSES for the region was made by the Regional Assembly in accordance with the provisions of the Planning & Development Act 2000 (as amended). The RSES is a strategic plan which identifies regional assets, opportunities and pressures and provides appropriate policy responses in the form of Regional Policy Objectives.

The objective of a RSES is to support the implementation of the National Planning Framework (NPF), as part of Project Ireland 2040, and the economic policies and objectives of the Government by providing a long-term strategic planning and economic framework for the development of the Region. The RSES is of critical importance for the delivery of Project Ireland 2040, given that it is the succeeding tier of policy delivery in Ireland.

The elected members of the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly (EMRA) agreed to make the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) 2019-2031, on June 28th 2019.

Complementary Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies have also been prepared by the Southern Regional Assembly and the Northern & Western Regional Assembly for their respective regions.

In this section

Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2019-2031 (RSES)

The primary statutory objective of the Strategy is to support implementation of Project Ireland 2040 – which links planning and investment through the National Planning Framework (NPF) and ten- year National Development Plan (NDP) – and the economic and climate policies of the Government by providing a long-term strategic planning and investment framework for the Region.

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Link to: Regional Development Monitor

Regional Development Monitor

The Regional Development Monitor (RDM), provides a national mapping and visualisation tool with a range of analytics dashboards.

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Link to: Submissions made by EMRA

EMRA Submissions

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Latest News & Events

All News & Events

Over €32million in investment grants announced for regenerative tourism projects in Midlands

22 projects to receive €27.1million investment grant-aid in first round of investment approval*. Bord na Móna to develop up to 79 km* of trails…
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Deadline approaching for Fáilte Ireland funding scheme for private and community SMEs to develop regenerative tourism projects in Midlands

Private and community businesses with an idea for a tourism project are being encouraged to apply for Fáilte Ireland’s Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking…
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Local projects in the Midlands to receive grants amounting to €18 million under EU Just Transition Fund programme

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan TD, today announced the 15 projects in the Midlands that will receive grant awards…
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“Regions in Focus” event

Councillors discuss options for enhanced Regional Government in Ireland at “Regions in Focus” event in Limerick.
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Minister O’Donnell launches new €120m fund to renovate heritage buildings in town centres

A new funding scheme under Ireland’s two European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Regional Programmes is providing €120m support.
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Understanding URBACT’s Impact at the Custom House

The Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly (EMRA) held its URBACT Info Day at the Custom House last Thursday, the 25th of January.
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EMRA in The Public Sector Magazine

Did you spot EMRA’s article ‘EMRA: Driving A Regional Agenda’ published in the Autumn 2023 edition of the Public Sector Magazine?
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Regional Assembly were joint winners of the IPI Planning Awards 2023

The Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly were joint winners of the IPI Planning Awards 2023 under the Research and Innovation category for the Regional Development Monitor.
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Smart and Sustainable Mobility Accelerator workshop held in Dublin

The Smart and Sustainable Mobility Accelerator (SSMA) commenced its Local Authority staff training track this week, and the workshop for the Eastern and…
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EMRA appointed as Contact Point for the European Urban Initiative (EUI)

The Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly is delighted to announce it has been appointed as the Irish Urban Contact Point (UCP) for the European Urban Initiative (EUI), having been nominated by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritag
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Invitation to Sustainable Mobility Academy

The Sustainable Mobility Academy (SMA) programme has been developed by the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly, Southern Regional Assembly and Northern…
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Apply for Just Transition Platform GROUNDWORK

On 6 February 2023 the Just Transition Platform (JTP) launched a call for applications for a new and targeted technical assistance called JTP GROUNDWORK.…
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Quick links

Our work and functions

Contact EMRA

Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly
3rd Floor North, Ballymun Civic Centre
Main Street, Ballymun
Dublin 9, D09 C8P5
Ireland

+353 (0) 1 8074482

info@emra.ie

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