Monaghan Integrated Development CLG (MID) recently met with the Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) to validate and refine the emerging Regional Action Plan (RAP) 2026–2030 under the PoliRuralPlus project. The stakeholder consultation marked an important milestone in co-developing a strategic roadmap for sustainable rural–urban development in County Monaghan.
Setting the Scene
The event opened with a warm welcome from Eamon Mullen (DkIT), who introduced all attendees and highlighted their roles within the Institute. This was followed by an introduction from Kilian Cawley, CEO of Monaghan Integrated Development, who provided an overview of MID’s extensive work in community and rural development.
Kilian outlined key outcomes from recent MID programmes and projects, emphasizing their impact across economic development, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability. He also presented the PoliRuralPlus project’s objectives, underlining its role in fostering innovation and evidence-based policymaking through the Regional Action Plan roadmap exercise.
Presenting the Draft Regional Action Plan
Jeyald Anthony, presented the draft RAP, structured around the themes of Circular Economy, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship. The presentation covered:
- Vision and Strategic Goals for County Monaghan 2040
- Current Circular Economy Landscape and analysis
- Policy and Strategic Alignments with regional, national, and EU frameworks
- Key Challenges and Opportunities identified during stakeholder engagement
- Gender and Diversity Dimensions in regional innovation
- Expected Impacts by 2040
- Proposed Interventions and Actions to drive inclusive, sustainable growth
Stakeholder Dialogue and Key Outcomes
A vibrant open discussion followed, structured around a Q&A session that encouraged feedback from DkIT participants, including Heads of Departments, Lecturers, and PhD researchers.
DkIT representatives expressed keen interest in partnering to implement the Regional Action Plan, particularly in areas related to innovation, circular economy transition, and renewable energy. They provided constructive feedback on the proposed interventions and agreed to compile a set of detailed written comments to share with the Irish Pilot team — a collaborative “Call to Action” to refine the RAP.
A Collaborative Milestone
The meeting demonstrated a shared commitment to co-creation and partnership between academia and regional development actors. The Irish Pilot, led by Monaghan Integrated Development, confirmed satisfaction with the consultation outcomes — the RAP has now been validated by a key regional stakeholder and strengthened through DkIT’s engagement. This partnership reinforces a joint ambition to translate the RAP into action, ensuring that future initiatives align with the region’s innovation potential and sustainability goals.
“The engagement and constructive feedback from DkIT reaffirm our shared vision for a resilient, circular, and innovation-driven Monaghan,” said Kilian Cawley, CEO of Monaghan Integrated Development.
Looking Ahead
The validated Regional Action Plan will inform future pilot actions and partnership projects within the PoliRuralPlus framework, aligning with the EU Green Deal and Ireland’s national circular economy and regional development strategies.
This milestone marks another step toward implementing evidence-based, participatory, and future-oriented policymaking — a hallmark of the PoliRuralPlus methodology.
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