11th January 2015
By Elaine Murphy
elaine@TheCork.ie
What is the Southern Regional Assembly? We tried for a year to attend
a meeting of its predecessor, but they take place in Waterford, alas
we are in Cork. Plus there always seemed to be something else more
Newsworthy on the day of the meetings.
Well the Inaugural Meeting (the first since the local elections) of
the Southern Regional Assembly took place on Friday, 9th January in
Assembly House, Waterford.
The Southern Regional Assembly established on 1st January 2015, is one
of three Assemblies in the Republic of Ireland following on from the
dissolution of the BMW and Southern & Eastern Regional Assemblies.
The former 8 regional authorities and 2 regional assemblies were
consolidated under the Government’s regional reform process under the
Local Government Reform Act 2014 to form the Southern, the Northern
and Western and the Eastern and Midlands regions.
The new assemblies incorporate the functions of both the former
regional authorities and assemblies, with significant enhancement of
some powers, particularly in relation to spatial planning and economic
development. During the coming year the new Assemblies are charged
with preparing new Regional Spatial & Economic Strategies for their
regions.
Photo caption: Cathaoirleach and Director:
Left to right: Cork County Cllr. Kevin O’Keeffe, Cathaoirleach,
Southern Regional Assembly; and Stephen Blair, Director, Southern
Regional Assembly
