Preface
Acknowledgements
List of Tables and Figures
List of Abbreviations
1. The Role of Local Government
- Local Government as an Instrument of Local Democracy
- Local Government as a Provider of Services
- Local Government as an Agent of Central Government
- Local Government as a Local Regulator
- Local Government as a Local Leader and Coordinator within ‘Local Governance’
- Local Government and the Constitution
- Conclusion
2. The Evolution and Reform of Local Government
- Origins of Irish Local Government
- The Inheritance: The 1898 Local Government System
- Local Government during the Struggle for Independence
- Local Government in the Irish Free State
- Postwar Local Government
- Local Government Reform Initiatives since the 1990s
- Conclusion
3. Local Government Areas and Territory
- Local Government Structures: County and City Councils
- Municipal Districts
- Other Local Agencies and Bodies
- Pre-2014 Territorial Restructuring
- Proposals for Territorial Reform
- The 2014 Reforms
- Proposed Reforms in Cork and Galway
- The Resilience of the County
- Conclusion
4. The Local Council and Elected Councillors
- Role of Elected Council and Councillor
- Reserved functions and policy
- Adopting bye-laws
- Scrutiny and oversight of the executive
- Representing constituents and the local community
- Part-time role?
- Nominations to Other Bodies
- Local Councillors
- Profiling local councillors
- Political parties and independents
- Council Meetings
- Council Structures and Committees
- The mayor/cathaoirleach
- Municipal districts and area committees
- Strategic Policy Committees
- Other committees
- Corporate Policy Group
- Decision-Making in Local Councils
- Number of Councillors and Representational Levels
- Local Elections
- Election campaigns and the local elections process
- Election turnout
- A distinct electorate: citizens and resident
- Five-year term of office
- Ending dual national and local representation
- Vacancies on the council
- Removal of elected council by central government
- Debate over a Stronger Political Executive/Directly Elected Mayors
- Conclusion: The Local Council as Fixers, Policymakers and Representatives
5. The Local Executive
- Origins and Evolution of the Management System
- Appointment and Tenure of Chief Executive
- Role of Chief Executive
- Executive functions
- Relations with the elected council
- Balance of power between elected council and chief executive
- Relations with the wider local community
- Relations with national government
- Day-to-day tasks and demands
- Local Government Staff
- Directors of service and management teams
- Staffing levels
- Staff recruitment and mobility
- Human resource management and staff appraisal
- Conclusion
6. Local Government Functions and Services Housing
- Provision of local authority housing
- Housing maintenance, estate management and urban renewal
- Voluntary housing associations
- Homelessness
- Traveller accommodation
- Future challenges
- Roads and Transport
- Road construction
- Road maintenance
- Traffic management and road safety
- Collection of motor tax
- Public transport and sustainable development
- Future challenges
- Spatial and Land Use Planning
- Forward planning
- Development management
- Planning enforcement
- Heritage and conservation
- Building control, regeneration and other regulatory powers
- Future challenges
- Environmental Protection and Waste Management
- Sustainable development
- Climate change
- Waste management
- Litter
- Water pollution
- Air and noise pollution
- Environmental awareness and promotion
- Future challenges
- Fire Services and Emergency Planning
- Fire brigade
- Civil defence
- Recreational and Cultural Services
- Public libraries
- Arts and culture
- Parks, playgrounds, sport and recreation
- Education, Health and Agriculture
- Planning for schools and education provision
- Education and Training Boards
- Higher education grants
- Regional health fora
- Coroner service
- Veterinary services and animal control and welfare
- Economic Development and Enterprise Support
- Local Development
- Towards greater coordination of local development
- Local Community Development Committees
- Other Services and Activities
- Register of electors
- Joint Policing Committees
- General Competence
- Coordination of childcare, children and youth services
- Broadband provision
- Conclusion
7. Local Government Finance
- Capital Expenditure
- Current Expenditure
- Local Government Revenue
- Local Property Tax
- Commercial Rates
- Service Charges
- Central Government Grants
- Local Government Fund
- Equalisation
- Specific purpose grants
- Other Revenue Sources
- The Budgetary ProcessAnnual Financial Statement
- Financial Management and Audit
- Reviews of Local Government Financing
- Early reviews
- KPMG review, 1996
- Indecon review, 2005
- Commission on Taxation review, 2009
- Local Government Efficiency Review, 2010
- Conclusion
8. Democratic and Accountability Reforms
- Local Democracy and Participation
- Participative reform proposals in local government
- Public Participation Networks
- Local Community Development Committee
- Fora for young people and the elderly
- Joint Policing Committees
- Other participative mechanisms
- Statutory consultation
- Accountability in Local Government
- Accountability to the electorate
- Accountability to the elected councilAccountability to central government departments and agencies
- Legal accountability: the courts and access to justice
- Financial accountability: audit and financial control
- Performance accountability and performance measurement
- Administrative accountability: complaints and role of Ombudsman
- Transparency and freedom of information
- Ethics and codes of conduct
- Conclusion
Challenges with participative mechanisms
Challenges with accountability mechanisms
9. Managerial and Administrative Reforms
- Strategic Planning
- Performance Measurement
- Quality Service Initiatives
- E-Government
- Shared Services
- Contracting Out and Privatisation
- Efficiency and Productivity Savings
10. Intergovernmental Relations and Multilevel Governance
- Mapping Local Government Networks and Interaction
- Central–Local Relations
- Central government controls on local government
- Central–local channels of communication
- Local government political channels
- Local government representative associations
- Central–local informal networks
- Local government reform and central–local relations
- Local Government–Local Government Relations
- Local Government–Local Agency Relations
- Cross-Border Relations
- Local–Regional Relations
- Local–EU Relations
- Interdependency, Networks and Multilevel Governance
- Conclusion
11. Regionalisation
- Development of Regional Structures in Ireland
- Regional authorities (1994–2014)
- Regional assemblies (1999–2014)
- Current Regional Assemblies
- Regional planning
- Management of EU-funded regional operational programmes
- Oversight of local government
- Other responsibilities
- ‘City Regions’, Metropolitan Areas, Gateways and Hubs
- Regionalisation in the Wider Public Service
- Conclusion
12. Europeanisation
- Overview of EU Law and Decision-Making
- EU law and legislation
- Role of EU institutions
- Subsidiarity, the EU and Local Government
- The EU’s Regulatory Impact on Local Government
- EU directives and local government
- Implementation and enforcement of EU directives
- The EU’s Funding Impact on Local Government
- The EU and Local Economic Development
- The EU and Institution-Building in Ireland
- Local Government and EU Policymaking
- EU and domestic channels
- Local government mobilisation
- Conclusion
13. Comparing Irish Local GovernmentLocal Government Traditions
- Territorial Structure of Local Government
- Executive Models: Mayors, Cabinets, Councils and Managers
- Local Government Functions
- Local Government Finance
- Intergovernmental Relations
- Managerial Reforms and Local Government
- Participation and Local Government
- European Charter of Local Self-Government
- Conclusion
14. Localism and Centralism in Ireland
- Centralist and Localist Traditions in Ireland: A Paradox
- Uniformity and Diversity
- Centralisation and Decentralisation
- Political Centralism
- Administrative Centralism
- Functional Centralism
- Financial Centralism
- The ‘Nuclear Option’
- Conclusion
15. The Future of Local Government
- Challenges that Lie Ahead
- ‘Stepping Back’ and ‘Stepping Up’?
- New Expectations and New Profiles
- Four Themes for Local Government’s Future?
- Efficient local government
- Participative local government
- Leading local government
- Empowered local government
- Conclusion
Appendices
Appendix 1 Text of Article 28A of Bunreacht na hÉireann
Appendix 2 Text of the European Charter of Local Self-Government
Appendix 3 Note on Terminology and Older Titles
Appendix 4 List and Number of Members of County, City, and City and County Councils in 2017
Appendix 5 List and Number of Members of Municipal Districts in 2017
Appendix 6 List and Number of Members of Regional Assemblies in 2017
Appendix 7 NUTS Classification of Regional Structures within Selected EU States in 2016
Appendix 8 Central Authorities and Ministers Responsible for Local Government
Appendix 9 Population of Counties and Cities, 2011 and 2016
Appendix 10 Individual Incomes by County, 2006 and 2014
Appendix 11 Turnout in Local Elections by County and City in 2014
Appendix 12 Note on Sources of Information and Websites
References
Index