The 3rd Stakeholders Meeting of the Irish PoliRuralPlus pilot, held online via MS Teams on 18 June 2025, brought together local leaders, enterprise representatives, and development experts to progress the shared vision for sustainable rural-urban transformation in County Monaghan.

Chaired by Gabriel O’Connell, the session spotlighted key developments across core project themes, with a strong emphasis on stakeholder engagement and the continued development of the Regional Action Plan (RAP).

From Planning to Implementation

Project updates, presented by Jeyald Rasaratnam, revealed encouraging developments in the following focus areas:

  • Circular Economy Business Development
  • Waste and Sustainable Agriculture
  • Awareness & Digital Tools for Communities
  • Energy Education and Renewable Initiatives
  • The Regional Action Plan (RAP)

The RAP continues to be a central component of the Irish pilot. Stakeholders were invited to review the draft plan and provide feedback on its structure and proposed actions. The RAP is designed to support sustainable, place-based innovation aligned with EU Horizon objectives.

Circular Economy in Focus

One of the key highlights was the presentation of the Circular Economy Scoping Study for County Monaghan, led by Allen McAdam under the Open Call scheme. Complementing this, Jeyald Rasaratnam outlined findings from the research, which explored:

  • Local job creation potential in emerging circular sectors
  • Challenges to adopting circular practices
  • Strategic recommendations to support local businesses and policy actions

Mapping Poultry Waste & Inspiring Project Ideas

The issue of poultry waste management in County Monaghan was revisited, with updated data and a series of project ideas shared as potential submissions under the PoliRuralPlus Develop Call. Stakeholders were encouraged to support the waste stream mapping process and explore opportunities for circular agri-waste solutions.

Empowering Awareness and Training

The meeting also considered how to best deliver Circular Economy Awareness and Training Workshops, particularly for community and social enterprises. It was agreed to coordinate efforts with the Climate Action Unit of Monaghan County Council to avoid duplication and build synergies with existing local initiatives.

Stakeholder Support and Collaboration

A strong sense of commitment was reflected in the stakeholder contributions:

  • BioConnect project expressed support for the poultry waste mapping initiative
  • DKIT offered to promote energy education and the Develop Call among Master’s students
  • Monaghan County Council will connect the Irish pilot team with its Environment Department
  • LEADER Programme reaffirmed its support for green and circular economy projects
  • LEO Monaghan offered to share past UCD research on poultry waste
  • Retrofit Champion shared updates on the Retrofit Ready Project, which is scheduled to conclude this year

Looking Ahead

The meeting once again demonstrated the strength of collaboration across County Monaghan. Stakeholders continue to play a vital role in shaping a resilient, inclusive, and green rural-urban future through shared actions and policy innovation.