IPB Insurance was delighted to sponsor the recent Regions in Focus 2024 Seminar & Training Event in Adare last month. The event was organised and hosted by the Association of Irish Regions, which is the representative organisation for Irelands Regional Assemblies. As Members of our mutual, we were delighted to sponsor their endeavours in fostering debate around how to address the current regional development challenges faced.

The Regions in Focus 2024 seminar and training event was held on February 7th and 8th at the Fitzgerald’s Woodlands House Hotel and Spa in Adare, Limerick. Since the 2015 restructuring of regional development and the establishment of the three Regional Assemblies, Ireland has seen a significant shift in regional dynamics.

In Ireland, the approach to regional development was restructured in 2015 with the introduction of three Regional Assemblies. Under Project Ireland 2040, and specifically through the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies, the three Regional Assemblies play a leadership role in supporting the delivery of national objectives and are at the forefront of best practice across several areas in this regard. The Assemblies have become vehicles for both securing and brokering critical investment, strategic policy making and are key advocates for their constituent communities (both urban and rural).

With the new Planning and Development Bill coming down the track and the National Planning Framework under review along with the considerable challenges of climate change, the Regions need to build and strengthen their capacity to meet these challenges.

This year’s Regions in Focus coincided with critical junctures in Irish planning and development, including new legislation and the challenges of climate change.

Moderated by the renowned journalist, writer, and current affairs presenter Olivia O’Leary, there were engaging debates as well as interesting insights from international experts, government ministers, and regional leaders.