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

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.

Reforming local government: Must it always be democracy versus efficiency?

“…The follow-up reports by the Local Government Efficiency Review Implementation Group (2012Group ( , 2013 showed that the local government sector achieved notable reductions in expenditure and staffing levels. There is some dispute over the precise figure for the decline in staffing, with Quinn (2015) claiming it was 24 per cent and Callanan (2016) stating it was 21 per cent. Whichever figure we take, it is worth noting that local government suffered 'the largest reduction in staff numbers across the public sector, and compared to a 4 per cent fall in those working in education and a 7 per cent fall in those working in central government ministries and departments' (Boyle, 2014).…”

“…Secondly, while there is a tendency to focus on the lack of functions under the remit of local authorities, there have been significant changes in how councils fulfil existing functions. After the recommendations of the Local Government Efficiency Review Group in 2010, we have seen changes to procurement systems, a reduction in the use of consultants and an increasing number of shared-service projects in areas such as HR, payroll, pensions and ICT (see Callanan, 2016;Quinn, 2015). For example, Laois County Council now operates the payroll and superannuation functions for virtually all of the local authorities.…”

Reforming local government: Past, present and future

“…Recurring themes in successive proposals and policy initiatives around local government reform over the decades have included issues such as territorial restructuring at regional level, city/county level and sub-county level, greater financial resources and autonomy, governance and management reforms, changes to the functional responsibilities of local government, and an enhanced developmental role for local government, including the bringing together of a range of governmental and non-governmental actors at local level (for a useful overview, see Quinn, 2015). This article looks at past and current reform themes, but also takes a slightly more speculative perspective to try to reflect on some of the longer-term trends that may have an influence on local government reform into the future.…”