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Baby steps: The expanding financial base of local government in Ireland

Author

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  • Considine John

    (Department of Economics, University College Cork)

  • Reidy Theresa

    (Department of Government, University College Cork)

Abstract

There are two essential elements to this paper. In the first instance, we explore the specific details of revenue and expenditure trends for local authorities over the last decade. The analysis is framed against a longer-term political context of forty years which focuses especially on the weakness of local government in Ireland. Despite an official narrative of financial overdependence on central government, the comparative examination of budgetary records of local authorities reveals considerable diversity in both the revenue and expenditure patterns of authorities across the state. While some authorities are heavily reliant on central government funding, others have a much stronger base of local funding, and indeed the financial crisis since 2008 may have increased these differences. The second dimension to the research is an exploration of the impact of the great recession from 2008 on local government finance in Ireland. Using a framework of new institutionalism, we identify the crisis as another critical moment for local government. We consider the political, economic and administrative variables which have brought local government to a financial crossroads, and we explore the potential for long-lasting financial change in local government, as well as speculating on the nature and outcome of that change.

Suggested Citation

  • Considine John & Reidy Theresa, 2015. "Baby steps: The expanding financial base of local government in Ireland," Administration, Sciendo, vol. 63(2), pages 119-145, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:vrs:admini:v:63:y:2015:i:2:p:119-145:n:7
    DOI: 10.1515/admin-2015-0013
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hansjörg Blöchliger & Josette Rabesona, 2009. "The Fiscal Autonomy of Sub-Central Governments: An Update," OECD Working Papers on Fiscal Federalism 9, OECD Publishing.
    2. Hansjörg Blöchliger & Maurice Nettley, 2015. "Sub-central Tax Autonomy: 2011 Update," OECD Working Papers on Fiscal Federalism 20, OECD Publishing.
    3. Mark Callanan & Ronan Murphy & Aodh Quinlivan, 2014. "The Risks of Intuition: Size, Costs and Economies of Scale in Local Government," The Economic and Social Review, Economic and Social Studies, vol. 45(3), pages 371-403.
    4. Hall, Peter A. & Taylor, Rosemary C. R., 1996. "Political science and the three new institutionalisms," MPIfG Discussion Paper 96/6, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies.
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