The annual general meeting of the Southern Regional Assembly took place on Friday, 10th July in Assembly House, Waterford.

At this meeting, Cllr Damien Geoghegan was elected as the Cathaoirleach and Cllr Frank O’Flynn was elected as the Leas-Cathaoirleach for the forthcoming year.

Their terms of office will run for twelve months until the Annual General Meeting in July next year.

 WHAT IS THE REGIONAL ASSEMBLY?

The Southern Regional Assembly established on 1st January 2015, is one of three Assemblies in the Republic of Ireland following on from the dissolution of the BMW and Southern & Eastern Regional Assemblies.

The former 8 regional authorities and 2 regional assemblies were consolidated under the Government’s regional reform process under the Local Government Reform Act 2014 to form the Southern, the Northern and Western and the Eastern and Midland regions.

The three new Assemblies incorporate the functions of both the former regional authorities and assemblies, with significant enhancement of some powers, particularly in relation to spatial planning and economic development. During the coming year the Assemblies are charged with preparing new Regional Spatial & Economic Strategies for their regions.

From 1st January 2015, there are 28 councillors appointed to the Assembly in the Southern region. They are not directly elected but nominated by their respective local authorities from within the Region. The councillors are supported by the staff of the Assembly, mostly based at the Assembly headquarters in Waterford City.

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