April 2026
Recent analysis shows that projects in the Southern Region received €27.66 million in EU Funds through Interreg Programmes between the start of the 2021 programming period and the end of 2025. This amounted to approximately 36% of the total amount received by Ireland in the same period.
The report, prepared by the Southern Regional Assembly, examines data from 2021 to 2025. It identifies key trends, successes, and challenges, and sets out a number of considerations to help inform the design of future Interreg programmes for the 2028–2034 programming period. Using these insights, the Southern Regional Assembly aims to strengthen Ireland’s position in upcoming negotiations and enhance the overall impact of Interreg funding nationwide.
The data indicates that Irish organisations are well represented across all sectors. Public bodies, private enterprises, higher education institutions, and civil society organisations have all secured EU funding for regional development projects. However, civil society organisations report difficulties participating in Interreg projects, primarily due to co-financing requirements. In response to this challenge, the Southern Regional Assembly, in collaboration with stakeholders, developed a Business Case to support the co-financing of Irish civil society organisations involved in EU Interreg projects. The proposal was shared as part of a pre-budget submission in 2024 and 2025.
In parallel, the Southern Regional Assembly has been engaging with the Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Union Affairs to better align regional development priorities with EU funding instruments, particularly the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). In October 2025, the Regional Assemblies collectively stressed the importance of advocating for a strong, place-based cohesion policy at the European level, while also strengthening regional governance at the national level.
The Assemblies emphasised the need to align EU funding with regional structures and strategies, strengthen the sub-national governance structures, and increase public awareness of the role and contributions of Regional Assemblies. A video recording and transcript of the debate are available at the Oireachtas Committee website.
