NUTS 2 statistical regions of the Republic of Ireland

Within the European Union, regions are arranged for statistical and revenue disbursing purposes using the NUTS structure. In Ireland, the regionalisation arrangements negotiated by the Government of Ireland in the context of Agenda 2000 resulted in the designation of the State into two regions for Eurostat and EU Structural Funds purposes. Following this designation, two new regions (and their associated Regional Assemblies) were established and came into effect in July 1999: Southern and Eastern NUTS-II Region and Border, Midland and Western NUTS-II Region.

NUTS Level 2 regions

The two NUTS 2 regions of Ireland are managed within the "Regional Assemblies in Ireland" system. Both regions had "Objective 1" status for EU Structural Funds purposes.

Border, Midland and Western
Region

Country	Ireland
Area^[1]
• Total	33,252.3 km² (12,838.8 sq mi)
Population (2007)^[2]
• Total	1,166,500
• Density	35/km² (91/sq mi)
NUTS code	IE01
GDP per capita (PPS)	€ 24,500 (2006)^[3]

Border, Midland and Western This region's "Objective 1" status for EU Structural Funds purposes ended in 2006.

area total (km2) = 33,252.3^[4]
population as of = 2007 = 1,166,500^[5]
GDP per capita (PPS) = € 24,500 (2006)^[6]

Southern and Eastern This region's "Objective 1" status for EU Structural Funds purposes ended in 2005.

area total (km2) = 36,544.8^[7]
population as of 2007 = 3,190,400^[8]
GDP per capita (PPS) = € 38,600 (2006)^[9]

Southern and Eastern
Region

Country	Ireland
Area^[10]
• Total	36,544.8 km² (14,110.0 sq mi)
Population (2007)^[11]
• Total	3,190,400
• Density	87/km² (230/sq mi)
NUTS code	IE02
GDP per capita (PPS)	€ 38,600 (2006)^[12]

The remaining part of the island of Ireland, Northern Ireland, is both a NUTS 1 and a NUTS 2 level area. This means that there are two NUTS 1 entities on the island.

Regional Assemblies

Function of the assemblies

to manage the Regional Operational Programmes under the National Development Plan
to monitor the general impact of all EU programmes under the National Development Plan/Community Support Framework
to promote coordination in the provision of public services in the Assembly areas

The Assemblies also host the INTERREG IIIB contact points in Ireland.

Membership of the assemblies

There are no direct elections to the Regional Assemblies. They are instead composed of elected representatives nominated by members of those NUTS III level Regional Authorities that comprise each NUTS II level region. Each Regional authority has a certain number of nominations to an Assembly, based loosely on the population of the Region. The BMW Assembly has a total of 29 members and the S+E Assembly has 41 members.

Governance of the assemblies

Each Assembly has an Operational Committee, which is composed of Chief Executive Officers of public authorities in the region and the Directors and Cathaoirligh (Chairpersons) of the Regional Authorities in the region. This committee is chaired by the Cathaoirleach of the Regional Assembly and its key tasks are to advise and assist the Assembly in the discharge of its functions.
Each Assembly has a Monitoring Committee for the implementation of the Regional Operational Programme in the region whose function is to:

satisfy itself as to the effectiveness and quality of the implementation of all expenditure;
to consider the progress and impact of both co-financed and non-co-financed expenditure in the region; and
to make recommendations to the Regional Assembly, the relevant implementing government department at national level and the Department of Finance.

Each Assembly has a Director and a number of policy, programme and administrative staff.

Financing the assemblies

The Assemblies are funded by central government through the Department of Finance. The costs of the other activities of the Regional Assemblies are funded by their constituent local authorities.