MEP Mullooly warns millions in EU funds at risk for Ireland's Midlands
Independent Ireland MEP Ciaran Mullooly has sounded the alarm on the urgent need for simplification of EU cohesion fund rules and a significant reduction in administrative burdens for applicants.
The funds are aimed at assisting communities and regions transition to a sustainable and green economy.
Speaking at the European Parliament Regional Development (REGI) committee meeting on Thursday, October 3, Mullooly warned that without immediate action, "county councils, agencies and community groups will be left behind and lose out on millions of euros of cohesion funds".
Mullooly strongly endorsed the Eastern and Midlands Regional Assembly's call for cohesion policy to remain the primary investment policy for Ireland's regions.
The assembly covers counties Westmeath, Roscommon, Offaly, Longford, and Laois, and parts of Galway, Kildare, and Tipperary.
The MEP expressed firm opposition to a centralised approach to fund distribution, stating, "I am not interested in any approach that means offering a Dublin Government the right to distribute funding for the regions in a 'one-size fits all' manner."
He stressed the diverse needs across Ireland's territories, noting, "I have seen in the last ten days how diverse the demands are for cohesion funds and just transition funds all over the country. The needs of the Clare Island community are very different to the requirements of the people who live outside Dublin on the Meath border."
Mullooly called for a place-based approach to fund allocation and implementation, urging the next Commission to "follow through on promises made by the President of the Commission that they will visit the regions and get a greater understanding of the situation on the ground." This approach, he argued, is crucial for addressing the unique challenges faced by different communities across Ireland.
The MEP's comments followed a series of meetings in Brussels with key regional representatives, including Clare Bannon, acting director of the Eastern and Midlands Assembly, Paddy Austin of the North and Western Regional Assembly, and David Kelly from the South Regional Authority.
At the REGI meeting, Mullooly also raised concerns about the high number of errors in cohesion fund spending.
He noted, "It has been put to me that a high level of engagement and absorption of funds at an early stage on a programme can also lead to a high level of errors."
In light of this, he has called on the Commission to re-examine the issue to ensure more effective fund utilisation.
Mullooly commented that: "We must simplify the process and reduce the administrative burden on everyone so that the amount to be spent, which is limited, can be used effectively and efficiently to make a real difference to the lives of the people of the midlands and north west."
He emphasised that time is of the essence, and any delays or inefficiencies in fund allocation and implementation could have severe consequences for the regions most in need of support.
The MEP's intervention highlights the critical juncture at which Ireland's regions find themselves. With millions of euros in EU cohesion and just transition funds at stake, Mullooly's call for urgent simplification and more efficient processes underscores the potential risks of inaction.
As the regions of the Midlands and North West face unique challenges in their transition to more sustainable economies, the effective and timely deployment of these funds could be the difference between a successful transformation and prolonged economic struggle.