The Relevance of Irish
Local Government
This is a summary of Muiris MacCarthaigh's article published in the Spring 2009 issue of Studies. The full text of this article can be ordered by clicking on "add to cart" button above. A PDF file of the article will be sent to you by email.
Because of over-centralisation at national level, local government in Ireland has in many instances been ‘hollowed out’. This contrasts with what sociologists term the ‘Northern’ [European] model (to be found in Denmark, Sweden, Britain) : local government systems in these countries enjoy high levels of discretion and public access.
In 1988, for instance, our county committees of agriculture were abolished – their work is now undertaken by a national body (Teagasc). As regards public health, administrative functions previously undertaken by local authorities have been assumed by regional health boards. And certain roads and environmental functions have been transferred to the recently established National Roads Authority and the Environmental Protection Agency. Besides, many non-elected bodies and organisations now operate within and across local government boundaries. The author has counted 242 of these – e.g., vocational educational committees, partnership companies, regional authorities.
This is not to say that no downward movement, or devolution, whatever has occurred (even aspirational). A Devolution Commission of 1995 mentioned tourism, economic development, education, social welfare as areas where local-authority involvment might be enhanced. Following the Better Local Government (1991) document, Strategic Policy Committees were introduced, along with community and voluntary fora. The 2008 Green Paper on Local Government high-lighted the increasing involvment of local authorities in areas such as environmental awareness, childcare services, the arts. Also, local authorities are being called upon to act as enablers and facilitators in tackling social exclusion and anti-social behaviour. The recent OECD report on the Irish public service, and the latest National Development Plan, and the Social Partnership Agreement Towards 2016 have all recommended that local authorities be given a greater say in local planning.
On balance, however, Ireland’s governance system remains in practice ‘vertically imbalanced’ [ - 2005 report on financing] : For one thing, a high proportion of local expenditure has to be funded from general taxation. For another, Ireland’s electoral system incentivises national politicians to maintain detailed involvment and high profile in their local communities. And, in general, governments will opt to further efficiency and coherence in local services – rather than to enhance local autonomy.
Muiris MacCarthaigh is a Researcher at the Institute of Public Administration, Dublin.
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