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The FASTER Project is calling on members of the public to share their attitudes on electric vehicles and sustainable transport
June 2022: Motorists and transport users across Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are urged to take part in a survey to help identify barriers preventing them from transitioning to electric vehicles.
The aim is for local authorities to gain a better understanding of people’s changing attitudes and behaviours towards electric vehicles and sustainable transport systems to help facilitate the relevant infrastructures in the surrounding areas.
The survey, commissioned by INTERREG and delivered by Transport Research Partners is supported by the FASTER Project, a joint initiative across Scotland, Ireland, and Northern Ireland that supports a model shift to zero emission and sustainable forms of transport.
The FASTER Project will install 73 new rapid charging stations for electric vehicles across the three project regions. The initiative has received €6.4 million EU INTERREG VA funding to further increase awareness of the sustainable options available to motorists and road users.
Match funding has been provided by the Department for Infrastructure (NI), Transport Scotland and the Department for Transport (Ireland).
The Cross Border Local Authority led Organisation East Border Region Ltd are the lead delivery partner for the FASTER Project and commenting on this call to the public, Chairperson Cllr Michelle Hall said:
“The East Border Region are delighted to be leading this exciting and necessary project. Electric vehicles are the future and as Local Authorities, the onus is on us to lead the way and provide the necessary infrastructure to effect change.
“We would encourage everyone to participate in the survey in order to help us determine attitudinal change and the most appropriate methods to support change going forward.”
Donal Monaghan, Project officer, who manages the behavioural change programme for the FASTER Project at South West College added:
“The steady increase in the number of electric passenger and commercial vehicle registrations proves a growing acceptance of a more sustainable transport system. Over the past 12 months, we have been working closely with agencies across the UK and Ireland, local authorities, government departments and electric vehicle user groups to support this transition.
“There are endless benefits of electric vehicles and other forms of sustainable transport, and we understand with the rising cost of fuel prices, people are reconsidering their mode of transport. Therefore, it is important that the public take this opportunity to make their voices heard and let us know exactly how we can support them on their travel choices.”
Survey respondents will be entered into a prize draw with the opportunity to win a £100 Amazon Gift Card. The closing date for the receipt of completed surveys is Friday 15th July.
The survey is available now at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/IRSust and further information about the study can be obtained by emailing interreg@transportresearch.org
Find out more about FASTER by visiting www.fasterevcharge.com

EBR Annual Report 2021

Please click link to view East Border Region’s 2021 Annual Report to view EBRs cross border activity with our Member Local Authorities and across our INTERREG VA projects throughout 2021.

Summer Newsletter

Please click below to access East Border Region’s Summer Newsletter

East Border Region were delighted to welcome a parliamentary delegation from Germany to County Hall, Dundalk, for a meeting with members of Louth County Council and Newry Mourne and Down District Council to discuss the impact of Brexit on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two Councils.

The MOU aims to further cross-border cooperation on issues like tourism and recreation programmes, sustainable economic growth and job creation; emergency planning and shared resources.

The German delegation was led by Professor Dr. Norbert Lammert, President of the Bundestag, and also included two Members of the Bundestag: Mr. Michael Grosse-Broemer and Ms. Britta Habelmann.

The meeting was facilitated by East Border Region, who are leading on the Brexit Border Corridor Study on behalf of the Border Local Authorities north and south. The East Border Region is chaired by Councillor Sharon Keogh from Meath County Council.

Ceann Comhairle, Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD, said, “It was a great pleasure to welcome this delegation to Ireland and to Leinster House this week. Of particular significance is our trip to Dundalk to meet with Louth County Council and Newry Mourne and Down District Council to discuss Brexit and its impact on border communities.  We very much appreciate the cooperation of East Border Region in facilitating our meeting today.”

“Trade between North and South and Britain and Ireland must be protected and our meeting with Council representatives will be an informative one for our German colleagues. Louth County Council and Newry Mourne and Down District Council are a great example of the type of cooperation that must be encouraged and nurtured as we and our European colleagues deal with the changes Brexit will bring.”

President Lammert thanked delegates for welcoming his delegation and expressed his resounding support for the border area: “please be assured Germany is very aware of the peculiarity and challenges of your situation due to Brexit and will offer our support in any way we can. We would like to welcome a delegation from the Irish Parliament to Germany to exchange our mutual perceptions”.

East Border Region Ltd held their Annual General Meeting in this the 40th year of operation for the organisation on Friday 2nd December 2016 in Louth County Council Offices. Pictured is outgoing Chairman Cllr Michael Ruane and EBR Chief Executive Ms Pamela Arthurs welcoming the newly appointed Chair for 2017 Cllr Sharon Keogan from Meath County Council. Vice Chairs elected were Alderman Jim Fletcher from Ards and North Down Borough Council and Alderman Elizabeth Ingram from Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council.

Ms Pamela Arthurs Chief Executive of East Border Region pictured at a recent Fianna Fail conference entitled “BREXIT: Issues and Impacts” along with Declan Breathnach TD and Cllr Damien O’Reilly.

Members of the East Border Region (EBR) Board and the Newry Mourne and Down – Louth Memorandum of Understanding Committee met with Northern Ireland Finance Minister Máirtín Ó Muilleoir on Thursday 25^th August in Newry to discuss the potentially severe impact on the people of the cross region of the UK’s decision to leave the European Union.

EBR has been a key player in the cross border funding arena since 1976 and in the last 15 years has delivered over €40 million of European funds which has helped the cross border region to grow and prosper.  EBR has been working on behalf of Local Authorities to develop cross border and Transnational EU Projects to enhance the economy of our region.  EBR are involved in 19 EU projects to the value of €132million and these projects are now at risk as SEUPB have advised that all EU Programmes, including INTERREG VA and Peace IV are forming part of the Brexit negotiations:

SEUPB Statement on EU referendum decision 24 June 2016

“It is anticipated that all EU Programmes including PEACE IV and INTERREG VA will form part of the discussions that are to take place between the devolved administrations, UK government and the European Union during the upcoming negotiations”

In addition to working on cross border collaboration, EBR has built up excellent partner networks with other EU member states and has devoted considerable time and resources to the development of transnational projects.  EBR are Lead Partner on 7 transnational projects and have been working with organisations in Spain, France, Portugal, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Iceland and the Faroe Islands.

All of these cross border and transnational projects are at various stages in the approval process; no Letters of Offer have been issued for any of this funding.

The Chancellor recently announced that the Treasury will only guarantee funding for those projects that are signed off before his Autumn statement.

Chairman of East Border Region Cllr Mickey Ruane outlined concerns about the future of INTERREG projects should they not be able to access EU funds. “It is absolutely vital that the cross border and transnational projects which we have in the pipeline progress through the approval process as soon as possible and certainly before the Chancellors deadline. These projects represent much needed investment in our region and to lose them would result in a significant loss to our economy”.

Finance Minister Máirtín Ó Muilleoir has said he is doing everything in his power to ensure the timely release of vital EU INTERREG funds as a key date for bids to be considered looms.

The Minister said: “EBR is a driving force in a number of projects submitted for EU funding.

“These are important projects that go right to the heart of communities. The projects aim to support research and innovation, protect the environment and develop sustainable transport.

“The councillors and representatives I met stressed to me their determination to ensure their bids for up to €37 million to support transformative cross-border programmes are approved at the early September meetings of the INTERREG panel.

“While we have been left in a state of uncertainty by the British government, the one thing I am absolutely certain of is that no funds will be lost as a result of lack of will or action on my part or on the part of project partners.”

EBR have met with a number of MPs, MEPs, MLA’s and TD’s from the cross border region over the past number of weeks. A meeting is also scheduled with Marian Harkin MEP on Monday 29^th August.  EBR will endeavour to continue to ensure the needs of the people of the cross border region are heard at both national Government level and on the wider European stage.

Members of the East Border Region (EBR) Board and the Newry Mourne and Down – Louth Memorandum of Understanding Committee met with MEP and Vice President of the European Parliament Mairead McGuinness on Friday 22^nd July and Matt Carthy and Martina Anderson MEPs on Monday 25^th July in the Canal Court Hotel, Newry to discuss the potentially severe impact on the people of the cross region of the UK’s decision to leave the European Union.

EBR has been a key player in the cross border funding arena since 1976 and in the last 15 years has delivered over €40 million of European funds which has helped the cross border region to grow and prosper.  EBR has been working on behalf of Local Authorities to develop cross border and Transnational EU Projects to enhance the economy of our region.  EBR are involved in 19 EU projects to the value of €132million and these projects are now at risk as SEUPB have advised that all EU Programmes, including INTERREG VA and Peace IV are forming part of the Brexit negotiations:

SEUPB Statement on EU referendum decision 24 June 2016

“It is anticipated that all EU Programmes including PEACE IV and INTERREG VA will form part of the discussions that are to take place between the devolved administrations, UK government and the European Union during the upcoming negotiations”

Mairead McGuinness MEP stated: “The impact of the Brexit vote on the border region is hugely significant. Ongoing and important development work in the area, funded jointly by the EU and the two Governments risks being stalled completely unless there is clarity about the future of the funding mechanisms and renewed commitment to implementing projects worth in the region of €132 million. The project promoters need clarity about the future and I will work to try and ensure that this impasse does not negatively impact on these projects. In the discussions about Brexit, it is important to remember that the impact is at local level, among communities and businesses and nowhere is it more critical to ensure continuity and certainty than in the border region of my constituency of Midlands North West.”

Matt Carthy and Martina Anderson welcomed interventions from Organisations such as EBR “We encourage groups to raise their voices to ensure that the wishes of those from Ireland who voted to remain are respected. The border region has suffered immensely as a result of partition and hardening partition will only have a negative impact on the lives of the people who live, work and study in the border region”.

In addition to working on cross border collaboration, EBR has built up excellent partner networks with other EU member states and has devoted considerable time and resources to the development of transnational projects.  EBR are Lead Partner on 7 transnational projects and have been working with organisations in Spain, France, Portugal, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Norway and the Faroe Islands.

All of these cross border and transnational projects are at various stages in the approval process; no Letters of Offer have been issued for any of this funding.

EBR have met with Lady Sylvia Hermon MP and Mickey Brady MP as well as a number of MLA’s and TD’s from the cross border region over the past number of weeks. A meeting is also scheduled with Margaret Ritchie MP on Thursday 28^th June.  EBR will endeavour to continue to ensure the needs of the people of the cross border region are heard at both national Government level and on the wider European stage.

East Border Region were delighted to welcome colleagues from Iceland, Norway and the Faroe Islands to Dundalk, Co. Louth last week to take part in our first partner meeting of our Northern Periphery & Artic Programme project entitled “Near Zero Energy”.

EBR secured preparatory funding under the NPA 2014-2020 to develop a project based on the Recast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD2) which requires that new buildings occupied and owned by Public Authorities erected after 2018, and all other new buildings erected after 2020, must be ‘nearly zero energy’.

Colleagues were greeted by the EBR Board and Chairman Cllr Michael Ruane extended a warm welcome to our transnational visitors.