About Us
Driving Cross-Border Collaboration Since 1995
The Irish Central Border Area Network Ltd., or ICBAN for short, is the Cross‐Border partnership for the Central Border Region.
Mission Statement
ICBAN will continue to improve the quality of life and prosperity of the Central Border Region by creating a dynamic model of best practice and partnership in cross border development.
The need for a cross border partnership was identified by local authorities within the Central Border Region in the early 1990s which led to the formal establishment of the Irish Central Border Area Network or ICBAN in 1995. ICBAN was founded to promote cross-border co-operation and communication at a Local Government level on common regional development concerns. This provided a forum to respond to the unique economic and social needs of the Central Border Region.
The eight Member Councils areas of the Central Border Region are Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon; Fermanagh and Omagh; Mid Ulster and the counties of Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, and Sligo. Many of these areas share similar geographical, economic, social, administrative and political characteristics.
Our History
Three Decades of Cross-Border Leadership and Regional Impact
Since 1995, ICBAN has driven cross-border collaboration and secured major investment to support the growth and development of the Central Border Region, working in partnership with its eight member Councils.
1995
The Irish Central Border Area Network is formed by local authorities as a cross-border development organisation. The early days provides for formal and renewed interactions and contacts between Councillors and Council Officials across the area known as the Central Border Region.
2003
Between 2003 and 2009, a total of €23 million was delivered by ICBAN and partners under INTERREG IIIA for 70 projects across a spectrum of sectors; tourism development, robotics engineering, environmental education, etc.
2012
As part of the Roads to Opportunity initiative, ICBAN publishes ‘The Socio-Economic Case for Improvements to the N16/A4 Sligo to Ballygawley and N2/A5 Monaghan to Letterkenny Transport Corridors’.
2015
The Partnership now has 8 Councils making up the formal membership, following the completion of the Review of Public Administration in Northern Ireland: Armagh City Banbridge an Craigavon Borough Council, Cavan County Council, Donegal County Council, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Leitrim County Council, Mid Ulster District Council, Monaghan County Council, and Sligo County Council.
2017
The Bordering on BREXIT’ report is completed between ICBAN and Queen’s University Belfast. Three further reports also focusing on the views of local communities through the BREXIT process are released, ‘BREXIT at the Border’ (2018), ‘The Border Into BREXIT’ (2019) and ‘The Border After BREXIT’ (2021).
2021
The latest strategic initiative for the Central Border Region, ‘The Framework of Regional Priorities’ is endorsed by the 8 member Councils and duly launched.
2022
The NI Assembly Public Accounts Committee released ‘Broadband Investment in Northern Ireland’. This report was based on the NIAO and ICBAN investigations and included key recommendations which subsequently triggered a clawback of c. £5 million funding in 2023.
2025
Delivery commences into PEACEPLUS supported projects, DS3, FLOW and GRASP.
2001
In securing funding for cross-border projects under the INTERREG IIA programme, the organisation is formally established as a company limited by guarantee, ICBAN Ltd.
2009
Over €14 million in funding from the INTERREG IVA 2007-2013 Programme was delivered by ICBAN and partners between 2009 and 2015. ICBAN assumed the role of Lead Partner in managing seven projects under the themes of Enterprise, Tourism and Collaboration.
2013
The strategy document for the Central Border Region, ‘The Regional Strategic Framework’ is launched in both Leinster House and Stormont.
2016
‘The Fibre at a Crossroads’ report is published, and is followed by ‘Ireland’s National Broadband Programme: Delivering on the Promise’ (2017), ‘Fibre at a Crossroads II’ (2017), supporting the organisation’s advocacy into the need for future-proofed regional telecommunications infrastructure across the border region.
2019
Delivery of two INTERREG VB Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme funded projects commences: Spot-Lit and Digi2Market. These complete in 2022.
2021
A Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of the NI Audit Office (NIAO) backs-up the case made by ICBAN in its broadband reports of 2016-2017, highlighting issues around underspends, and clawback.
2024
Delivery commences into the first of 5 PEACEPLUS funded projects that ICBAN is involved in, either as Lead Partner or Project Partner: GEMINI.
2026
Delivery commences into the PEACEPLUS supported project, BRIDGE and involving ICBAN as a project partner. These 5 PEACEPLUS initiatives provide for a total of €40 million investment and will run until concluding in 2028 and 2029.
Strengthening the Central Border Region
Addressing Shared Challenges Through Strategic Cross-Border Collaboration
The Councils of the Central Border Region experience common problems and concerns: a need to re-enforce and expand infrastructure, a sense of distance from centralised decision-making, a perceived peripherality from each jurisdiction, in addition to the peripherality in an EU context, which is experienced by the island, as a whole.
ICBAN’s role is to help address these challenges and does so by facilitating Local Government and key stakeholders in the development and delivery of projects and initiatives for the benefit of the Central Border Region; advocating on key topical areas of economic, environmental or social interest; capacity building of elected representatives; support of cross-border co-operation and promotion of our Region.