<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The perceived deficiencies in Ireland’s local government system have frequently been diagnosed, resulting in reports, White and Green Papers and action plans. This article reviews the main reform trajectories, paying particular attention to developments since 1971 and demonstrating that the reforms which did occur were affected by national and international developments. The form, functioning and financing of local government were recurrent themes in the reform documents, and these aspects are specifically examined. Political, administrative and decision-making structures are found to have been altered; the scope of existing functional programmes and the modes of implementation have changed noticeably; and, although the issue of local funding sources has been tackled, the centre’s financial hegemony has not been eliminated. Despite the insights of the reform documents, there is little evidence of a clear and consistent philosophy underpinning reform, so the cumulative changes represent a unique blend of innovation, incrementalism and entrenchment.</p></abstract>

The perceived deficiencies in Ireland’s local government system have frequently been diagnosed, resulting in reports, White and Green Papers and action plans. This article reviews the main reform trajectories, paying particular attention to developments since 1971 and demonstrating that the reforms which did occur were affected by national and international developments. The form, functioning and financing of local government were recurrent themes in the reform documents, and these aspects are specifically examined. Political, administrative and decision-making structures are found to have been altered; the scope of existing functional programmes and the modes of implementation have changed noticeably; and, although the issue of local funding sources has been tackled, the centre’s financial hegemony has not been eliminated. Despite the insights of the reform documents, there is little evidence of a clear and consistent philosophy underpinning reform, so the cumulative changes represent a unique blend of innovation, incrementalism and entrenchment.

Local government reform – Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose?

Administration

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Local government reform \u2013 Plus ça change, plus c\u2019est la même chose?"}

The perceived deficiencies in Ireland’s local government system have frequently been diagnosed, resulting in reports, White and Green Papers and action plans....

Local government reform – Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose?

Published Online: Aug 21, 2015

Page range: 7 - 29

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/admin-2015-0008

Keywords
Local government reform, form, functions and finance, innovation and incrementalism

© Bríd Quinn

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Local government reform – Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose?

Published Online: Aug 21, 2015

Page range: 7 - 29

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/admin-2015-0008

KeywordsLocal government reform, form, functions and finance, innovation and incrementalism

© Bríd Quinn

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Local government reform, form, functions and finance, innovation and incrementalism