Urban Contact Point

The Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly (EMRA) plays a key role in three main areas: strategic planning and sustainable development, European Affairs, and effectiveness in local government. With a strong emphasis on spatial planning, it has a statutory role in Ireland for the coordination and oversight of Local Authorities’ development plans and is responsible for the making and implementation of the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy. This provides to the EMRA a great sounding board for integrated urban development and for making those important linkages at the local, regional, national, and European-wide levels. EMRA works closely with its parent central government department: the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage which is responsible for planning and urban matters within Ireland as well as the local government sector.