Institutionalizing the Politics-Administration Dichotomy in Local Government

Abstract

This chapter examines local government in Ireland, with a particular focus on the evolution of the council-manager form within the Irish local government system. Strengthening executive leadership within local government is an enduring theme of local government reforms internationally, typically manifesting itself through stronger directly-elected mayors or cabinet-style executive structures. An alternative approach used in some jurisdictions is the ‘city manager' or ‘council-manager' model, whereby a non-political manager is given significant autonomy to work within a policy framework established by the elected council. This chapter also examines other reform themes in Irish local government, such as territorial and structural changes, functional and financial reforms, efforts to facilitate greater citizen participation in local government, and the influence of New Public Management and efficiency reforms in response to the financial crisis and great recession after 2007.