This festive season, as we reflect on a year of progress and partnership, the Southern Region stands strong and ready for the opportunities ahead. Across every county from Waterford to Kerry, Carlow to Clare, Cork to Kilkenny, Limerick to Tipperary and Wexford, our communities are benefiting from strategic planning and sustained investment supported by the Government of Ireland and the European Union.
At the heart of this shared success is the Southern Regional Assembly’s Corporate Plan 2025–2029, a five-year roadmap that sets out our collective ambitions for sustainable growth, resilient communities and balanced regional development. The Plan builds on the Assembly’s statutory role in regional spatial and economic planning and European fund management, ensuring that local needs are reflected in national strategies and that EU funds deliver real impact on the ground.
In 2025, we continued to champion projects that help create jobs, strengthen local services and enhance quality of life across the Southern Region. By managing the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), engaging in co-funded EU projects and initiatives, and supporting smart, sustainable, inclusive regional planning, the Assembly helps unlock funding that boosts enterprise, fosters innovation and builds climate resilience.
Looking ahead, our work will remain rooted in the values of partnership, sustainability and community-centred development to plan for a future where every part of the Southern Region thrives — economically, socially and environmentally. As we celebrate this festive season, we also celebrate the enduring collaboration that helps realise these ambitions.
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from the members and team of the Southern Regional Assembly.
2025 Highlights
Corporate
• Launch of the Corporate Plan 2025–2029, setting a renewed strategic vision for sustainable regional development, launched by Minister John Cummins on Europe Day.
• Participation in the Pledge for a Cleaner, Greener Waterford 2025, reinforcing the Assembly’s commitment to climate action.
• In April, Assembly Members undertook a study trip to Brussels to strengthen relationships with EU institutions and partners.
Interreg NWE
• As Ireland’s National Contact Point, supported applicants through the final regular Interreg NWE call before 2027, contributing to over €20m invested in Southern Region development since 2021.
• New NWE-funded projects advanced climate action, biodiversity and innovation, including AquaCom, ClimaSed, ResiRiver and Flashfloodbreaker across Cork, Limerick, Clare, Kerry and Tipperary.
ERDF Regional Programme
The ERDF programme allocation is now 80% awarded, remaining on target to meet all funding milestones.
ARC Hubs Scheme
- The announcement of the award of funding to the Research Ireland ARC Hubs for Therapeutics and ICT which represent a new model for regional innovation and entrepreneurial training that will catalyse a step-change in the translation of cutting-edge, publicly-funded research towards impact at a regional level.
- The official launch of the ARC Hub for Therapeutics.
SMART Regions Scheme
• The new Catalyst HQ in Carlow was launched through ERDF support, creating a purpose-built innovation hub expected to generate 350 direct and indirect jobs over 15 years. The project is led by South East Catalyst Innovation Company CLG with regional partners and co-funded by the ERDF under the Smart Regions Enterprise Innovation Scheme.
TU RISE Scheme
• The TU RISE initiative officially launched, strengthening research and innovation collaboration across the region’s technological universities.
THRIVE Scheme
• THRIVE showcased its citizen engagement model at the 2025 New European Bauhaus Festival in Brussels.
• An additional €63m was awarded to 10 local authorities for the regeneration and adaptive reuse of heritage buildings.
• The “Reimagining Places” conservation conference in Monaghan attracted strong national and EU participation.
EU Projects
• The PEACEPLUS DISC project progressed its strategy for future Irish Sea cooperation, recognised in the 2025 Ireland–Scotland and Ireland–Wales bilateral frameworks.
• FutureECOS partners met in Cork to share regional good practices in sustainable, inclusive development.
• The TALENT4S3 project was presented at the OECD New Brunswick Conference, highlighting the region’s focus on talent attraction.
• Over 60 stakeholders attended the annual “EU Funding in Action” event, exploring ETC opportunities and supports.
• The Assembly hosted 40 European delegates in Cork for a PROXIMITIES study visit on sustainable urban living and community-led placemaking.
Planning
• A new report on housing delivery identified critical challenges affecting supply across the Southern Region.
• Waterford celebrated its designation as a UNESCO Learning City, marking a milestone in lifelong learning.
• The Assembly co-hosted a seminar on the future of Ireland’s MASPs in partnership with ESPON and Maynooth University.
• The SSMA programme concluded successfully and was nominated for an Irish Planning Institute award.