National INTERREG Information Day Tullamore 11 th June 2015 The Ireland Wales Co-operation Programme...

National INTERREG Information Day

Tullamore 11th June 2015The Ireland Wales Co-operation

Programme

Mike Pollard – Head of ETC UnitWelsh European Funding Office – Welsh Government

WEFO – Who are we?

• Part of Welsh Government – manage delivery of Structural Funds in Wales

• West Wales and the Valleys & East Wales programmes (ERDF/ESF)

• Four Programmes – some £2 billion for 2014-2020• Supporting economic growth and jobs through:

– Research and innovation – Business finance– ICT and Transport connectivity– Energy– Helping people into work and training.

• ETC – Ireland Wales/Atlantic Area/North-West Europe/EU 28 programmes – Managing Authority for Ireland Wales Programme

Structural Funds in Wales

£1.604bn

EU funds Total Investment

£2.08bn

£325m £488m

£63m £76m

West Wales &Valleys

East Wales

Ireland/WalesCo-operation

Provisional Figures subject to approval by EC. Calculated using a planning rate of 1.25

Ireland Wales Co-operation Programme

Timelines

Programme developed in partnership - Tri-lateral group WEFO/SRA/DPERDrafting/ Ex-ante evaluation Late 2013/2014Discussions on MA – announcement March 2014 Financial allocations – UK and IE June 2014Formal consultation June - July 2014 Submission of CP September 2014Negotiations /re-submission December 2014 Formal approval February 2015


Policy context •Socio-economic analysis •Identification of needs, challenges and opportunities within cross-border region•EU2020 Strategy •UK/IE Partnership agreements •Fit with national policies – Wales and Ireland•Lessons learned


Vision

To provide the framework for organisations in the cross-border area to actively co-operate – to address challenges and shared priorities of common interest on both sides of the Irish Sea – thereby contributing and adding value to the economic and sustainable development priorities of Ireland and Wales


PROGRAMME INTERVENTION LOGIC PROGRAMME INTERVENTION LOGIC

Specific objective

Situation

Needs ChangeExpected

result

Result indicator

Output indicator

sActions

Objectives

Results

Outputs

PROJECTS


Identification of six main challenges•Utilising the potential of the Irish Sea•Improving knowledge flow•Improving SMEs’ innovative capabilities •Vulnerability to the impacts of climate change•Using natural and cultural heritage and resources to drive economic growth•Economic and social cohesion


Strategy – some overarching principles

•Focus on shared priorities which provide the greatest added value•Focus on economic development and jobs and growth•Projects should be genuinely cross-border seeking solutions to shared challenges•Should strive for tangible results and maximum impact •Targeting of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth


Strategy•Concentration of resources – more focused intervention •Assists the development of quality projects•Programme can act as an enabler and innovator •Integration – complementarity with other ESI Funds•Results focus - more emphasis on results orientation and measuring success - achieving real value – economy and society


Focus•Three Priority Axes and Specific Objectives

•Simplified approach – relevance to challenges, needs of the cross-border area, financial capacity of programme and potential for most impact

•Alignment with strategic priorities of Welsh and Irish governments and relevance to the maritime nature of the cross-border area


Priority Axes

PA 1 – Cross-border Innovation

PA 2 – Adaptation of the Irish Sea and coastal

communities to climate change

PA 3 – Cultural and Natural resources and heritage


Grant Rate: up to 80% of eligible costs


Types of co-operation

•The establishment or development of a network, co-operation platform, portal or strategy•The transfer or adoption of knowledge, expertise, technologies or best practice•The enabling or paving the way for investment in the design, development, testing or delivery of new processes, products, studies or services (e.g. pilot actions, demonstration models etc.)


Indicative activities – PA 1•Transfer of knowledge between academia and SMEs to support business innovation (in line with smart specialisation strategies)•Piloting of initiatives to test innovative products, processes or services•Cross-border demonstration, testing and marketing of new products, services, processes and systems•Cross-border innovation clusters•Development and transfer of models of best practice to assist internationalisation and competitiveness of SMEs/trade


Indicative activities – PA 2

•Providing mechanisms and platforms for sharing knowledge – climate change – risks and opportunities•Research on climate change impacts on Irish Sea and coastal communities•Development of assessment tools•Transfer of knowledge, expertise and best practice on adaptation measures•Developing further knowledge and understanding of the Irish Sea environment including its bio-diversity, habitats and species and its vulnerability to climate change


Indicative activities – PA 3•Cross-border promotion and development of business opportunities related to sustainable management of natural and cultural resources including niche tourist attractions•Enhancing the coastal and marine environment to make the cross-border area a more attractive place to visit •Promoting joint eco-tourism in coastal areas•Joint branding and marketing of natural and cultural assets•Utilising coastal and sea based environment to promote healthy living through outdoor activity•Supporting cross-border entrepreneurial activity in SMEs in promoting maritime leisure, heritage and traditional cultural and creative industries along the coast


State of Play•First Programme Monitoring Committee (PMC) – Dublin 30th April 2015•Second meeting July 2015 – Communications and Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy•Selection criteria for Programme agreed •PMC – set up Programme Steering Committee (PSC) for project selection•PSC – first meeting – July 2015•Programme now open for business•Joint Secretariat (JS) & Ireland Wales Operations Officers (Development Officers) in place


Implementation

•Open call for applications – no “timetabled” calls•Pre-planning stage – first contact with JS /Operations Officers•Completion of Operation Logic Table •Submission to Technical Group •Technical Group decision – progress to business planning stage•Application stage – two Gateways – business plan and detailed planning stage •PSC responsible for decisions on operations at both stages


Guidance

•Link with Operations Officers essential•Documents now available:

– Citizens’ summary – co-operation programme – Implementation arrangements guidance – Eligibility rules and guidance (draft)

•Under development - Wales Ireland Networking (WIN) project


Joint Secretariat Team

Linda Weaver – Carmarthen - Head of JS

Operations (Development) Officers:

Patrick Lilly – Carmarthen

Roger Seddon – Llandudno Junction

Siobhan Rudden – Waterford

Breda Curran – Waterford

Ireland Wales Co-operation Programme - Guidance

Get in touch:

www.irelandwales.ie

www.wefo.wales.gov.uk

[email protected]

[email protected]

@irelandwales / @wefowales

http://www.irelandwales.ie/

http://www.wefo.wales.gov.uk/

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Thank You

National INTERREG Information Day Tullamore 11 th June 2015 The Ireland Wales Co-operation Programme...

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