Local government in the Republic of Ireland

Abstract

Local government plays a multitude of roles in Irish society and has a profound impact on our daily lives; however, its role is often understated or misunderstood.In a recent survey carried out by the National Audit and Oversight Commission (2018) it was found that while 92 per cent thought that their local area was a nice place to live, only 26 per cent agreed that their local authority can influence decisions affecting their area.Knowledge of their local council and awareness of services provided were generally found to be low among those surveyed.In the last decade huge change has taken place at the local government level, including territorial reform, changed functional responsibilities, new financing arrangements and other ongoing reform initiatives.This book is intended as an introduction to the system of local government in the Republic of Ireland, focused on contemporary local governance.It provides a much needed update on a previous publication (Callanan & Keogan, 2003).The author has made a clear effort to ensure this book can be used as an ongoing resource to students and practitioners alike: chapters can be read in isolation, and both the table of contents and index provide easy reference points.Chapter one sets out the many different ways the role of local government in Ireland can be characterised -as an instrument of local democracy, a provider of services, an agent of central government, a local regulator, and a local leader and coordinator.These roles overlap and clash at times.This chapter sets the scene regarding the limited role of local government in certain functions, and the relationship between local government and central departments and agencies and the local area/citizens.The issues introduced here are expanded on throughout the various chapters.

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