The Southern Regional Assembly has a key role regarding:
- Strategic planning and sustainable development of the Southern Region,
- Implementing the Regional Spatial & Economic Strategy for the Southern Region,
- Promoting balanced regional development through the management, support and promotion of EU programmes under the EU funds operating in Ireland,
- Linking local, regional, national and EU policy goals through regional planning and EU project activity.
Key Functions of the Southern Regional Assembly include:
- Implementing body for the Regional Spatial & Economic Strategy for the Southern Region,
- Regional planning oversight of local authority development plans, local area plans and local economic and community plans,
- Managing Authority for the Southern & Eastern Regional Programme 2014-20,
- Managing Authority fo rthe Southern, Eastern & Midland Regional Programme 2021-27,
- Programme Partner and Contact Point for the Ireland Wales Programme 2014-20,
- National Contact Point and Member State Representative for Interreg North-West Europe,
- Regional Contact Point and Member State Representative for Interreg Europe,
- Project partner on several EU co-funded projects on key topics aimed to support the sustainable economic development of the Southern Region,
- First Level Control audit function for Irish partners under European Territorial Cooperation (Interreg) projects – Ireland Wales Programme, Interreg North-West Europe, Interreg Europe, Northern Periphery Programme, Interreg Atlantic Area and URBACT.