Under the Local Government Reform Act 2014, the Southern Regional Assembly assumed a number of new functions -  chief among these is the preparation and implementation of a Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) for the Southern Region of Ireland.

The RSES sets out the strategic regional development framework for the Region, with a primary aim to implement Project Ireland 2040 - the National Planning Framework, at the regional tier of Government and to support the achievement of balanced regional development.

The Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) requires that all City & County Development Plans and variations are consistent with the RSES and relevant national policy, with draft development plans or proposed variations to development plans referred by the relevant local authority to the Regional Assembly. The Regional Assembly considers the consistency of the draft with the RSES and can make formal recommendations to the local authority on what amendments, in the opinion of the Regional Assembly, are required to ensure consistency of the proposed variation to the development plan and its core strategy with the RSES.

The Assembly is a prescribed body under the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), which means that it must be consulted in relation to certain planning matters as specified in the Act.

The RSES and associated Environmental Reports are available here