ISSUE 8 DECEMBER 2015

welcome / FáILTE

This bulletin is produced by the EU Funding and Strategic Policy Unit of Donegal County Council. The EU Unit works with all services of Donegal Whats Inside... County Council to proactively target external funding opportunities, EU Unit News...... 2 influence policy and identify EU networks of benefit to the Council. The Strategic Policy Unit promotes and support inter-agency networking Funding and Projects...... 5 and partnership across the wider north west region through a range of collaborative structures and projects. This bulletin will provide you with Networks and Collaboration...... 8 all the latest news in relation to Donegal County Councils involvement in this important area of work. Policy Work...... 12 Liam Ward, Director of Services, Donegal County Council North West Updates...... 14

‘SPACEial’ project wins The SPACEial North West project prestigious Chambers has won first place Ireland Award in the Joint Local Authority Initiatives SPACEial North West picked up a category. prestigious Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Award at the The project has Chambers Ireland Annual Excellence in worked with key Local Government Awards ceremony in stakeholders Dublin in November 2015. This, the 12th providing them with annual awards ceremony, recognises and the combination celebrates the best of Local Government. of spatial datasets The Donegal project team with Mr. Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland (left) and the SPACEial NorthWest is a cross border which are most relevant to their needs and Minister Alan Kelly T.D project with Donegal County Council provides them with the technical skills to being the lead implementing council, enable them to use this data to develop working closely with the City and policies, plans and strategies for the Strabane District Council, Limavady enhancement of the entire region. plans and policies and equips them with Borough Council and Magherafelt District the necessary skills to use different GIS Council in responding to the need for The project produced a dedicated website, technologies to make best use of the data cross border data to inform and shape www.spaceialnw.eu which is essentially a available.” He added: “This project has policies and decisions within the entire one stop shop for Maps, Stats and Apps in provided a much needed platform in the region. Chambers Irelands Excellence in the North West Region Cross Border. North West Region in using geographical Local Government Awards showcase best Congratulating the project team Seamus information to develop plans and policies practice in local government, highlighting Neely, Chief Executive of Donegal County and has the potential to impact on the lives some of the great projects that local Council said the SPACEial project was all of 317,518 people who live in this cross- authorities are undertaking. The Awards about placing data at the heart of decision border region”. are judged by a panel of expert judges making. “It provides both public sector and working in the field of Local Government non public sector agencies with 159 cross- For more information please contact and have been taking place since 2004. border spatial datasets to help inform their Research & Policy Unit : 0749153900. Apply Skills and Conserve our Environment with New Tools (ASCENT) Project

The ASCENT project will develop management plans across the programme area to assist Local Authorities and other stakeholders to monitor these sites and The EU Unit of Donegal County implement innovative measures Council assisted in the submission to ensure their economic and Cool Route Delegates of the ASCENT Project to the environmental sustainability. Meeting Northern Periphery & Arctic 2014- The project will look at how to 2020 Programme under Priority use and manage the mountains The Cool Route project seeks to Axis 4 - Natural and Cultural and upland areas responsibly, develop a unique sailing route from Heritage; Specific Objective 4 - will examine new ways to deal Cork to Norway. Donegal County Increased capacity of remote and with the sites, learn from other Council is a main partner in the project, which is led by Cork Institute sparsely populated communities regions using a teacher: learner of Technology. Cool Route delegates principle, examine habitat for sustainable environmental recently met in Donegal Town from management. The application damage and habitat restoration, 27th until 28th October 2015. This visit was submitted on 27th November and introduce appropriate site to Donegal included a partner meeting 2015. specific mitigation measures. The and also a stakeholder workshop project will create living laboratory to engage local communities and If successfully funded, the ASCENT situations whereby management tourism providers. Each partner project will bring together Local techniques can be implemented was required to present an update and Environmental Authorities and skills gained locally on on their individual project work to collectively address the learning from other regions. It packages. Donegal County Council/ Donegal Tourism Ltd representative environmental challenges facing will seek to explore new concepts Joy Harron presented an update on the conservation and enhancement for balancing tourism, cultural of Areas of Natural beauty in the work package 2 – communications and economic interests with and dissemination of information for partner regions: Iceland - Geosite environmental needs. The project the Cool Route project. A stakeholder Eldhraun (e. Laki lava field) will disseminate and generate workshop was held on day 2 with local (Skaftáhreppur) Úlfarsfell Mountain knowledge on the impacts on the tourism businesses, sailing clubs etc. (Reykjavík and Mosfellsbaer environment, local biodiversity invited to attend. The workshop was municipalities); Slieve Donard resources and promote civic pride very positive and it was important to (Eastern Mourne Mountains), among communities of their engage with and get feedback from Slieve Gullion and Ring Dyke environmental resources, and local stakeholders. The next meeting is due to take place in Glasgow in April (); Mount Errigail, unique local cultural heritage. 2016. Derryveagh Mountain, (Donegal Project outputs include learning, Ireland); Hossa region (Finland) exchange of ideas and measures and The Hardanger Mountain to arrest the decline and Plateau (Norway). degradation of Natura 2000 sites and other sites (SACs) caused by Due to unregulated access to sites unregulated / unrestricted access and natural erosion these regions to mountains. are experiencing degradation, loss of unique bio-diversity and bio- For further information please resources. contact, Roisin McBride - [email protected] Cool Route Projects Partners from Ireland Northern Ireland and Scotland pose for photo during Donegal meeting

EU Unit News 2 EU citizens about development issues, to network, providing them with a mobilise greater public support for deeper knowledge of the project actions against poverty, give citizens including the development of the tools to engage critically with global Local Level Training that will form part development issues, to foster new of the project locally commencing in ideas and ultimately to change 2015 and concluding in 2016. The attitudes. Following on from the training on offer will provide successful European Level training participants with an opportunity to that took place in Donegal in July develop their understanding of and be 2015, two members of Donegal enthusiastic about DEAR having the County Council attended the ability to link global issues to local European Level Training in Athens, realities. If you are interested in th th The Ladder project stands for Local Greece from the 5 to the 07 attending the training or wish to find Authorities as drivers for development November this year. This training out more about the project, please education and awareness raising, which saw participation from twenty contact Joanne on jkilmart@ otherwise known as (DEAR). DEAR is European countries, from Italy to donegalcoco.ie or visit the Council’s an EU Programme that aims to inform Israel gave participants an opportunity website @ www.donegalcoco.ie

EU Unit News 3 ‘Increased use of energy efficiency and Smarter Energy Communities, 15 energy renewable energy solutions in housing and solutions applied which retrofit 24 houses, public infrastructures in remote, sparsely increase efficiency by 5% in 3 buildings populated areas.’ and install alternative energy sources in Smarter Energy The project aim is to transfer and 3 public infrastructures. The approach is Communities in Northern implement innovative energy solutions for novel because it packages solutions from and Arctic regions. housing and public infrastructure across energy higher maturity regions as services SECURE Project the Northern periphery and arctic regions for delivery to other parts of the NPA, Project ‘SECURE’ was submitted to the with different maturity-levels throughout promotes sustainability by building up local Northern Periphery & Arctic Interreg VB these regions. Knowledge transfer will be authority expertise, concentrates initial programme on 27th November 2015. The demand-led, supported by a quadruple helix effort in small communities to increase project was led by Ernact – ‘European approach, and impact will be maximised impact, and brings all stakeholder together Regions network for the application of by focusing implementation in small smart using a quadruple-helix approach. Communications Technology’ with project energy communities and building up local The entire project budget is €1.5m and DCC partners Donegal County Council, Leitrim authority capacity. The main objective is will hold a budget of €255,000. The project County Council, Derry City & Strabane to use transnational cooperation between will now undergo an admissibility check and District Council, and transnational partners higher and lower maturity regions to then an eligibility check by the programme from Finland, Sweden, Faroe Islands and increase awareness of the technologies secretariat and if deemed eligible, it will Newfoundland. SECURE is an acronym for (including ICTs) and solutions for energy then undergo a quality assessment with ‘Smarter Energy Communities in Northern efficiency and renewables. The main change final decision by the end of February 2016. and Arctic Regions.’ Lodged to Priority (result) will be increased energy awareness For more information please contact Axis 3 – ‘Energy Efficiency & Renewable in communities and local authorities, Roisin Kelly: [email protected] Energy’ and to Specific Objective 3 – evidenced by the following outputs: 5

WILDSEA Europe Meeting A meeting of the WILDSEA Europe project delegates took place from the 8th until the 9th of October in the Clanree Hotel, Letterkenny. Delegates from Spain, Italy, Croatia, Northern Ireland and Donegal were in attendance and were delighted with the opportunity to visit Donegal, some for the first time. The meeting coincided with the Donegal Tourism Ltd ‘Connecting the Wild Atlantic Way Tourism Conference’. Project delegates had the opportunity to network with local project stakeholders at the conference and meet tourism providers who were very interested in participating in the project. Project delegates were also given a tour of the county including Malin Head with the guidance of Emmett Johnston from National Parks and Wildlife. Opportunities to develop Malin Head as a world class marine national park were discussed. A list of 15 stakeholders/tourism businesses has been compiled and these businesses will be contacted in due course to engage them with the project.

EU Unit NEws 4 Heritage, with the specific objective for managing runoffs, but well- to increase capacity of remote and structured and comparable data for sparsely populated communities eco-efficient and profound decision- for sustainable environmental making is missing. WaterPro aims management. to bridge this gap. The project will now undergo an admissibility check The Northern Runoffs into Profits followed by an eligibility check by the or WaterPro project will collect programme secretariat and if deemed WaterPro Project dispersed knowledge and expertise eligible, it will then undergo a quality The 3rd call for Priority 3 and 4 of in runoff management into a well- assessment with a final decision in the NPA programme closed on 30th structured Guidance and Tool kit, February 2016. November 2015. Donegal County especially tailored for sparsely Council is leading on project WaterPro populated NPA areas currently facing For further information contact: under priority 4 – protecting the water pollution issues and future EU unit Donegal County Council WaterPro Project under Priority harsh effects of climate change. Tel : 074 9153900 4 - Protecting, Promoting and Historically, different regions have Developing Cultural and Natural developed their specific methods

Showing exceptional innovation SPACEial to educate and stimulate The overall winner of the Esri Ireland’s Rosita’s idea for the map was inspired Project Award ‘Maps Make Sense for Salzburg’ annual by her experience while working in the Map Challenge 2015 has gone to Rosita Research and Policy Unit of Donegal Mahony, GIS and Research Officer County Council, under the guidance with the SPACEial NW Project for the of Loretta McNicholas, and receiving Donegal County Council’s Diaspora requests from agencies, related to the Project ‘Ireland’s Call – to return recession and the implications that it its Global Diaspora Home’. Rosita is has on emigration. The development based at the Public Services Centre in of the story map involved considerable Letterkenny. research around the Irish Diaspora community and the hard economic The project was recently presented facts and statistics to understand why to the Minister of the Diaspora Mr they had to leave. Jimmy Deenihan at the annual Tip For more information please contact Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach O’Neill Irish Diaspora Award ceremony and at the Department of Foreign Affairs with special in Buncrana. He highlighted the Rosita Mahony at 0749153900. responsibility for the Irish abroad Jimmy Deenihan potential via mapping technology, to - See more at: http://www.donegalcoco. TD(right) with Chief Executive, Seamus Neely and the winner of the Esri Ireland’s ‘Maps Make Sense for globally reach out to the Irish Diaspora ie/yourcouncil/communications Salzburg’ annual Map Challenge 2015 Rosita Mahony, Community abroad. Donegal County Council.

meeting environmental and heritage project costs over the lifetime of the requirements, route design, planning, project. Investments will be focussed construction, signage, promotion on those parts of the network which monitoring and evaluation. Donegal demonstrate the greatest capacity County Council through the Donegal Trails to impact on carbon emissions by INTERREG VA Office, is working in partnership with bringing about a shift in transport SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT Derry and Strabane District Council to patterns. The closing date for the SEUPB have opened a call for applications put in an application for a cross-border submission of applications is January for the development of cross-border greenway development. €14 million 29th 2016 Greenways and cycle networks to ERDF is available under this call.The reduce car journeys in cross border maximum intervention rate that can be For further information contact: transportation. Including strategic applied is 85%. This means that applicants Francis Conaghan - fconaghan@ planning of cross-border routes utilised are required to bring a minimum of up donegaltrailsoffice.com by commuters, addressing access issues, to 15% match funding to the eligible

EU Unit NEws Funding & Projects 5 NPA (Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme)

ERNACT submitted a €1.8 million funding application to Priority Axis 3 which closed on 30th November 2015. This priority has the specific objective of increasing the use of PROJECT FUNDING UPDATE energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions in housing and public infrastructures. Project decisions will be made by the NPA Monitoring Committee on 24th February 2016.

CREATE PROJECT INTERREG Europe

The CREATE project held its Final ERNACT submitted two project Conference in Nièvre (France) on applications to the recent INTERREG 23rd September. CREATE (Connecting Europe funding call. One was North West Europe submitted to the Low-Carbon Rural Enterprise for a Transnational Economy priority and one to Programme Economy) is an INTERREG IVB Research and Innovation. ERNACT NWE funded project that aims to are also a partner in a further ERNACT were one of nineteen transform small rural businesses application submitted to Research organisations who were successful across North West Europe using high and Innovation. The total value of in Step 1 of the recent INTERREG VB these applications amounts to €5.3 North West Europe funding call. As speed broadband and advanced ICT. million. All three projects have passed a result, ERNACT were invited to ERNACT held a number of workshops a technical assessment and successful enter Step 2 and have submitted an throughout County Donegal, applicants will be notified in January application in mid-December valued Derry City and Strabane to inform 2016. at €2.9 million. Successful project local SMEs about the benefits of applicants will be notified at the end of February 2016. conducting business online. These workshops were funded through Please follow ERNACT at facebook. CREATE. See www.create-nwe.eu or com/ERNACT or twitter.com/ERNACT facebook.com/CreateNWE for more to receive our latest updates. information.

IMPROVE PROJECT

The IMPOVE project held its Launch services. The project is currently Conference on 10th November documenting and sharing good 2015 in Bifrost (Iceland). IMPROVE practices from partner regions. is led by ERNACT and funded by This will form the basis for a the Northern Periphery and Arctic common methodology to guide Programme (NPA). Donegal County the development of innovative Council and Derry City & Strabane public services. Please follow us District Council participate as project at facebook.com/ImproveNPA to partners. IMPROVE aims to increase receive the latest updates. the level of innovation in six NPA regions (including County Donegal) in the field of technology-driven public

Funding & Projects 6 basins a coordinated, cross-border approach to the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive is needed. The River Restoration project has identified actions that go above and beyond those that agencies already have a statutory obligation to undertake and will address the core challenge of restoring water-bodies in border area catchments by increasing catchment resilience (biophysical, social and NEA3 - CAPITEN 2020 economic) and developing stakeholder capacity (community, government and NGOs) taking into consideration both This is a nautical and marine leisure River Restoration Project industry based project lead by the surface and groundwater. Regional Council of Brittany with Donegal County Council is lead A stage 1 application is anticipated to Donegal County Council as a project partner in a bid for funding under be lodged by the close of the call which partner. Through its participation in this the Environment measure of Interreg is 8th January 2016. VA cross border programme, specific project, Donegal County Council will objective 2.4 : To improve freshwater For further information contact: EU develop transnational networks and quality in cross-border river basins. As unit Donegal County Council Tel : 074 partnerships of benefit, which will seek Northern Ireland and the Republic of to exploit the economic opportunities Ireland share three International river 9153900 of the sector, put in place sustainable solutions and promote job creation in regions. It will allow potential visitors our regions. Following the circulation to see in advance the natural and build environment along each trail, the tourist of the strategic implementation plan, all and visitor attractions, restaurants, pubs, project partners have submitted their shops, businesses etc. Specific Action document outlining the numerous local and regional iniatives The project seeks to action data capture they are planning. As part of the and comparability across different project development, a collaborative Trail Gazers jurisdictions, work with interested partner The EU Unit of Donegal County Council countries to identify the existing, planned work platform has been launched on and potential recreational walking the web portal of Brittany. is currently working with the Research Unit of Donegal County Council to routes across the region and explore identify funding opportunities for the with interested partner countries the This tool will centralise partner proposed Trail Gazers Project. The Trail best approach to using technology as contributions and project preparation Gazers Project aims to transfer learning, a promotional tool. The project seeks to work in partnership with tourism documents with a conversation space technology and experience from the providers in interested partner countries to allow partners express their views on SPACEialNW project while at the same time working with interested parties to identify approved accommodation and project themes. To endorse the overall in developing an online ‘Trail Gazers attractions within close proximity to a action plan, Donegal County Council Application’. The idea behind the project route. To enhance the visitors (walkers, attended a technical working session in is to allow tourist visitors to Atlantic cyclists and outdoor pursuits) experience of everything Donegal recreational routes Paris on December 11th. The purpose regions advance viewing of places of has to offer, while at the same time of the meeting was to help finalise the natural beauty across the Atlantic area using virtual tours. At a broader level the promoting and developing the counties bid which will be presented at the first project will endeavour to increase visitor natural and cultural heritage to a world call for applications for the Atlantic Area numbers to rural Atlantic regions and wide audience. The project is being Programme in June 2016. share experiences with Tourism Agencies developed with the Interreg VB Atlantic and Local and Regional Authorities on Area programme which is due to open in early 2016. For further information contact: EU Unit technology deployment and the mapping Donegal County Council, 074 9153900. of recreational routes using technology. This application will allow visitors to For further information contact Ms. take a virtual tour of different walking Roisin Mc Bride EU Unit rmcbride@ and recreational trails throughout the donegalcoco.ie

Funding & Projects 7 will be contacted individually to • Research, identify, restore and determine their own individual interests conserve sites of maritime and expectations. It is likely that the heritage, archaeological and consortium will be comprised of a lead historical significance with partner Donegal County Council, full particular reference to maritime partners from the various EU countries conflicts through the years. This and a number of associate partners. is of particular significance as the Tides of Time The aims of the Tides of Time project Great War Centenary takes place The Tides of Time project is now in are: between 2014 – 2018. further development phase with • Develop a maritime heritage trail work packages being expanded and • Revitalisation of Coastal linking heritage sites, underwater developed to suit a number of themes. communities by providing a new attractions and coastal sites with The Atlantic Area Programme to means of stimulating economic historical and archaeological value which the project will be submitted and social improvement and job and deploy a marketing campaign was finalised in November 2015 now creation through tourism and and reduce tourism seasonality by providing the necessary information for education. providing a wide range of activities. the further final project development. • Promote transnational co- operation and create a co- It is anticipated that with further The EU Unit are continuing to receive operative network of partners partnership finalisation and expressions of interest from potential building relationships and collaboration early in the year the partners including interest amongst understanding of maritime historic application will be submitted to the partners of the Sail West project. From events in each region. first call in quarter 2 2016. For further early December 2015 potential partners information contact: EU unit Donegal County Council Tel.: 074 9153900

NUI Galway National The Eu unit attended and participated in Presentations from both the national the event which provided participants contact points of these programmes Event of the Atlantic with an update of a wide range of as well as input from stakeholders Action Plan topics related to the marine sector in involved in these programmes created Ireland and the Atlantic Area, as well as a lively discussion on the opportunities Implementing the Atlantic creating discussion on the opportunities available, how people are looking to available to Irish stakeholders. avail of these with the ultimate aim Action Plan & Measuring of generating potential project ideas the Ocean Economy The event hosted two parallel sessions to bring forward in the future. The Conference and showcased current socio- joint presentation by the EU unit and economic marine research and funding Donegal Tourism covered the units Donegal county Council were invited opportunities. Sessions focused on the role within DCC, EU networks and to present at the “Implementing the INTERREG Atlantic Area and the Ireland collaboration work, Marine Tourism Atlantic Action Plan & Measuring the Wales programme and facilitated Objectives, Previous EU projects, and Ocean Economy’ Conference in Galway the use of these programmes in projects for the upcoming Atlantic Area on November 24th. The event was implementing the Atlantic Action Plan. programme planning 2014-2020 – Tides organised by the support team for the of Time, Trail Gazers and NEA3. Atlantic Action Plan in association with the Socio-Economic Marine Research For further information contact: EU Unit Unit (SEMRU). Donegal County Council, 074 9153900

Funding & Projects Networks & Collaboration 8 Cross border cooperation Group

Donegal County Councils EU unit Donegal County councils EU unit were invited to sit on a Cross Border role is in identifying and utilising the Cooperation Group comprising of EU funding programmes that best representatives from Inishowen align with the councils ambitions Development partnership, RAPID, and objectives on a project led basis. Donegal Local Development This ensures that the programme Company, Uduras, and Derry City and works for and in the interests of the Buckinghamshire County Strabane District Council. IDP has organisation which in turn benefit brought this cross border grouping the local community, county and Council – North West Europe together to initiate and discuss the region. To date this grouping have Interreg VB bid proposal. future for the region in relation to met 4 times since June 2015 and the Rural development programme the intention is to continue to do so Buckinghamshire County Council and possible collaborative EU funding into 2016 with a view to optimising released an expression of interest to projects. and availing of all possible funding those interested in joining them in opportunities. preparing a bid under the Interreg Reference is strongly made to the EU VB North West Europe programme unit resourcing available within both For more information contact Roisin to facilitate the implementation of Donegal County Council and Derry & Kelly : [email protected] low- carbon, energy and climate Strabane District council. Both units protection strategies to reduce GHG utilise regional and European funding emissions in the North West Europe and the opportunity to harness this region and under priority objectives: SO2/SO3. further through collaboration of the A meeting was held with their respective organisations. representative in mid September to determine if there would be any interest within this local authority to Research & innovation become involved in this bid proposal. The initial project discussion, scoping Priority - Interreg VA and outputs are: Territorial Co-Operation • Potential installation of a pilot district heating solution programme. The research & Innovation priority or testing of new emerging objective seeks to increase business solutions to assist with SEUPB in October 2015 released industry-relevant Research & addressing fuel poverty. final detailed information relating Innovation capacity across the • To create tools and networks to to the Interreg VA cross border region within two specific target share knowledge and outputs territorial co-operation programme sectors; ‘Health & Life Sciences’ arising from data created within 2014-2020. This information has and ‘Renewable Energy’. It will the project. been modified since previous result in an increase in the annual • To create a network of correspondence resulting in the need number of peer reviewed journal stakeholders across North West to rediscuss with partners and to and conference publications within Europe which would allow a re-scope having regard to the new these two sectors, with cross-border knowledge exchange on best opportunities this programme now authorship and with the potential to practice and successful models presents. This meeting was held in create economic impact. for implication of district heating November and during which the solutions. Research & innovation - Renewable This presents a new opportunity energy priority was discussed in for an academia lead cross border Donegal County Council found the context of the development project in Donegal and in NI and work this opportunity interesting and is currently continuing in exploring will consider the potential project of Killybegs as a centre of marine this further. and the options further before the renewable excellence. SEUPB has set opening of the next call of the North out the priorities and their respective West Europe programme. objective, actions and outputs. For more information please contact : [email protected]

Networks & Collaboration 9 Serbian Secretary of meeting he expressed his strong belief that the region of Topica in Serbia State visit to Donegal and Donegal shared commonality County Council in having evolved under similar geographical, historical, socio-economic circumstances and conditions. In October 2015 the EU unit was contacted by the Institute of public He was extremely interested in learning administration in Dublin to arrange more and obtaining information a meeting with a visiting State on the evolution, preparation and Secretary from Serbia. A small team implementation of the first two PEACE from the Community & Enterprise Programs and establishing a contact directorate comprising: Divisional with the Managing Authority who have responsibility for implementing the manager Paddy Doherty, EU unit reps During the visit Mr Filimonovic met programs to ascertain if such a model Roisin Kelly & Roisin mc Bride and with ERNACT – European regions could be applied in the normalisation from the Peace team, Anne McElchar network in the application of of relations between Belgrade and met with Mr Milovan Filimonovic on Communication technology who th Pristina. 5 November. have a Serbian region as a member. This provided an additional link The meeting was hugely interesting for Mr Filimonovic is the State Secretary and area for the Serbian official both parties, extremely hospitable and in the Ministry of Finance based in to further explore and he was greatly appreciated by Mr Filimonovic. Belgrade and during a previous visit extremely delighted to have had the As a next step he is keen to establish had visited Donegal where he met opportunity to briefly meet with stronger links between Donegal and the with a DCC official and he wished to Caitriona Strain and Marion Boyce of Topia region of Serbia and he hopes to reconnect and develop this contact ERNACT. again to learn more of the workings initiate contact further with Donegal County Council. of both the EU unit and of DCC Peace For more information please contact programme secretariat. During the Roisin Kelly: [email protected]

• To improve the implementation of integrated urban & sustainable strategies/ action plans in cities • To ensure that practitioners and decision makers at all levels have access to knowledge and share know-how on all aspects of sustainable urban development.

Whilst URBACT is not an investment programme it does however finance A cross sector representation from Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and transnational exchange and learning Donegal County Council, Health by Member & Partner States. Currently networks for cities. The term cities is Service executive and Inishowen the programme is open for expressions loosely defined which provides scope Development Partnership attended of interest on Action Planning networks for smaller urban locations. Budget per a workshop on the new URBACT and the programme also works with partner is typically €600,000 -€750,000 III programme. The workshop was capacity building and capitalisation and match funding from aprtners delivered by the national contact dissemination. The programme has 4 depending on the status of counties point for the programme, Ms main aims: being less developed & Transition: 85% Caroline Creamer who is based in NUI • To improve the capacity of cities to ERDF and more developed: 70% ERDF. Maynooth. This programme aims to manage sustainable urban policies foster sustainable integrated urban and practices in an integrated and For more information please contact : development in cities across Europe. participative way. [email protected] It is an instrument of the Cohesion • To improve the design of integrated Policy, co-financed by the European urban & sustainable strategies/ action plans in cities.

Networks & Collaboration 10 of projects such as Sliabh Liag, Fanad Lighthouse and Malin Head. “I think it’s fair to say that in Donegal we have the best product development than anywhere else in the whole country. Chief Executive Seamus Neely congratulated the industry for embracing the Wild Atlantic Way in such a short period of time and making the considerable effort to develop new networks that would help reach more customers, maximize the potential on their online digital platforms and showcase what their businesses has to offer. He said a key part of the conference was to update and improve

Donegal County Councillors Bernard marketing techniques and he knew Connecting the McGuinness, Martin McDermott, Nicholas Crossan, Rena Donaghey and Paul Canning with from feedback from last year’s event Cllr Ciaran Brogan and Mayor of that web-marketing and web-booking Wild Atlantic Way the Letterkenny Municipal District, Cllr Gerry potential had improved because its McMonagle with Barney McLaughlin and potential had been highlighted. He Paddy Doherty from the Council’s Community believes the Wild Atlantic Way holds Tourism and Enterprise section with Chief Executive of Donegal County Council, Seamus Neely at the great opportunities for Donegal and second annual ‘Connecting the Wild Atlantic that we are really only beginning to see Conference Way’ tourism conference the first benefits of it and that there are multiples more by way of traffic, visitors The collective marketing of Donegal and The theme this year, ‘Your Business, and revenue spent. a positive attitude in presenting this to Developing Networks, Reaching the world wide tourism market is crucial Customers’ attracted a huge attendance “How we collectively tap into that will if we are to continue to benefit from the from all over the county and beyond. determine how much of that potential growth of the Wild Atlantic Way. That we will actually realize. My own view was the message from Donegal County Cathaoirleach of Donegal County is Donegal is the ‘wild’ part of the Wild Council’s Chief Executive and Chairman Council, Cllr Ciaran Brogan told Atlantic Way – it’s rugged, it’s beautiful, of Donegal Tourism, Ltd, Seamus Neely delegates that over the past number it’s vast, it has lovely communities, when he addressed the second annual of years the Council had made tourism it has fabulous landscapes, it has the ‘Connecting the Wild Atlantic Way’ one of their main priorities and they lot” he said. – See more at: http://www. tourism conference which was held were currently spending over €½ million donegalcoco.ie/yourcouncil/communication in the Clanree Hotel, Letterkenny in marketing the county while a lot of October. work had gone into the development For more information please contact the EU unit at : 0749153900.

Interreg V Environment Workshop The Special EU Progammes Body (SEUPB) managing authority for Interreg VA held an Environment thematic workshop on the 27th October 2015 in the Crowne Plaza, Dundalk to assist potential applicants. Lorraine McCourt, Director of SEUPB gave an overview of the Programme and Priority, departmental input was given by Owen Lyttle, DOE and Ciaran O’Keefe NPWS, Paul Boylan, SEUPB Progamme Manager provided details on the application, appraisal and project management and the workshop ended with a number of themed discussions covering budgets, projects delivery structures and results/ outputs. Donegal County Council are partnering on projects under Environment; Objective 2.1 Recovery of protected habitats and priority species and Objective 2.4 Improve freshwater quality in cross-border river basins. A video of the workshop along with the presentations can be accessed on the SEUPB website www.seupb.eu

Networks & Collaboration 11 Donegal County Council EU unit welcomed the invitation to meet with SEAI representatives from the Emerging technology division in Dublin on 4th November. The meeting provided the opportunity to open the discussion and inform SEAI of the progress of Project TIDAL. This project passed the Stage 1 bid process of the North West Europe Interreg VB programme in July 2015 and since then has been the subject of detailed and ongoing collaborative talks.

SEAI provided feedback and advice on how to proceed with the project concept and also offered information on existing support mechanisms available by way of existing funding programmes. SEAI clearly demonstrated a desire to support both in an advisory and financial means of such an initiative in Donegal and see great potential for the roll out nationally should such a model develop for tidal energy exploitation.

For more information please contact [email protected]

policy Work

the projects that the Council has either compete in National and European Submission to the been a lead partner or a partner in funding programmes. The Unit has LEADER plan 2015 recent years including: and will continue to actively explore the opening bids of the 2014-2020 The EU Unit was requested to prepare • Freshwater Pearl Mussel Practical INTERREG and other transnational suites a submission for the new Local Measures Implementation Project of programmes to develop projects that Development Strategy for the LEADER (INTERREG IVA) align with the long term objectives and • Inch & Foyle Wildfowl Reserve programme. The submission outlined priorities of the organisation. The ability (INTERREG IVA) that Donegal County Council has to maximise and attract external funding • Ren Net (INTERREG IVA) extensive experience in participating to the county and wider region will be • Termon Project (PEACE III) in and managing EU projects. Donegal key in supporting and in realising the • Hands of History (PEACE III) County Council, through its EU Policy Council’s four directorate’s medium and • Energy Awareness & Public and Funding Unit and the Community long term objectives and ambitions as Consultation (SEAI, Energy and Enterprise Section has a wealth set out in the Councils Corporate Plan Research, Development & of experience in the planning and and Local Economic and Community Demonstration(RD&D) Programme) implementation of a large number of Plan. projects, as funded through a wide The EU Unit during 2014 & 2015 has variety of funding sources including ‘For more information please contact continued to successfully expand its the Peace Programme, INTERREG and the EU unit at: 0749153900. activities and to explore opportunities various Transnational programmes. presented by the regions eligibility to The submission profiled a selection of

Interreg VA update - North West Regional Development meeting

Mr. Liam Ward, Director of Service, Community, Enterprise and Planning, was recently invited to present the work currently ongoing by the EU Unit and the wider Council in relation to the new round of INTERREG VA cross border funding at a meeting of the North West Regional Development Group.

The presentation focused on the planning process that the council has in place to target INTERREG VA funding for the county. Projects are targeting the Research and Innovation, Environment and Sustainable Transport measures. Mr. Ward highlighted the Council’s success during the previous INTERREG IVA funding period where Donegal County Council was a partner in 15 projects that received over €25million in funding.

The presentation also included information on a number of bids for the current programme, including the River Restoration Project currently being prepared by the Water and Environment section of Donegal County Council in conjunction with the EU Unit and other cross border partners.

Networks & Collaboration / Policy Work 12 policy Work

Presentation of AtlanTIC report to the Killybegs stakeholder group

At the most recent Killybegs stakeholder Ireland and the UK as a means of bring enormous benefits to the country meeting held on 12th November Ms assessment and information in the as a whole and will have the potential Elizabeth Muldowney of ‘The Rural development of the Killybegs LYIT to position the region and country policy Hub’ consultants delivered a campus. as a leader in ocean energy and the’ presentation on her final piece of work blue economy’ as a whole. The report for the council titled ‘AtlanTIC’ which Dundee University, namely, the Dundee was delivered to the existing Killybegs was a follow on to her previous work University Centre for Renewable stakeholders group which currently on the development of Killybegs as a Energy (DUCRE), the Centre for comprises of Donegal County Council, centre of Marine excellence in Tourism, Energy, Petroleum and Mining Law Letterkenny Institute of technology and Renewable energy & Food product and Policy (CEPMLP) and the Centre Bord Iascaigh Mhara. This group came development. for Environmental Change and Human together approximately 2-3 years ago Resilience (CECHR) emerged as leasers to further development the common The AtlanTIC report was carried out as in this area and that a lot can be learnt vision for Killybegs and the region. desktop research and focused on the from this model. The report produced For more information please contact single element of renewable energy by Ms Muldowney concludes that LYIT’s [email protected] narrowed down to existing energy AtlanTIC ‘ (Atlantic trade & Innovation research and innovation centres in centre) on their Killybegs campus will

Regions, EU Institutions and Policy-Making – Online Course

EU unit staff have just completed their online course or MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) on EU regions, institutions and policy-making which explained how the EU institutions function, how they work together and how this impacts policies and activities at the regional and local level. The course was organised by the Committee of the Regions, the EU’s the EU’s assembly of regional and local representatives, and was aimed at those interested in the EU and its regional affairs, particularly for officials of regional and local administrations involved in EU affairs.

The role and impact of the regions in policy making is not well known and often underestimated in public debate, this course contributed to the capacity-building of the regional and local authorities.

More than 50 politicians and experts from other EU institutions, agencies, European associations and academic institutions contributed in the production of the course which lasted for eight weeks.

During the eight-week course participants focused on one specific theme each week and had the opportunity to evaluate their learning progress through weekly quizzes. Content was delivered in the form of educational videos, live web debates with experts, infographics, factsheets, and participants interacted via social media and provided questions for guest speakers during the online debates.

For further information contact: EU Unit Donegal County Council, 074 9153900.

Policy Work 13 Northwest Update

Derry City & Strabane District Council European Funding Seminar

Donegal County Council’s EU unit participated in a European Funding Seminar Hosted by City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Elisha McCallion. The event took place in the Guildhall on Friday November 20th. The purpose of this funding seminar was to provide knowledge of how to access available European funding streams. Speakers at the seminar included MEPs Matt Carthy and , Colette Fitzgerald from the European Comission Office in Belfast, John McCandless, SEUPB, Aidan Gough, Interrade Ireland, Richard Osterhus, Derry City & Strabane District Council, and Trevor Scanlon, Donegal County Council. Each guest described their roles, the work they are engaged in, the support and assistance they provide and how groups have benefitted from previous funded projects. Speakers outlined the 2014 – 2020 Interreg VA cross border programme and PeaceV, The seminar provided a unique Richard Osterhus, Derry City & Strabane District opportunity for groups to meet and Council, John McCandless, SEUPB, Trevor Intrereg VB programmes - Northern Scanlon, Donegal County Council, MEPs Matt Periphery & Artic, Atlantic Area and engage with the speakers to find out Carthy and Martina Anderson, Elisha McCallion, North West Europe and identified the what might be available for them under Mayor of Derry and Strabane District Council, priorities of each programme, national the current funding stream. Colette Fitzgerald, European Comission Office. contact points and expected calls for applications.

EU Unit Presentation to SPC Meeting The EU Unit was invited to present at the Community, Social and Culture Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) on 21st October 2015. This presentation outlined the role and function of the Unit and committee members were advised of the project applications either currently being explored or prepared. The presentation provided updates on the three core areas of work within the EU unit – external funding, networks and partnership; and policy work.

The October 2015 edition of the EU Unit Bulletin was distributed at the end of the presentation and members expressed great interest in the work being undertaken by the EU Unit all of which was highlighted in the presentation and Bulletin.

It was noted at the meeting that the EU Unit will remain as a standing item on the agendas for all future SPC meetings and that a quarterly progress report will be prepared for these meetings.

EU Unit Contact Details

NORTHWEST UPDATE 14