As announced in last month’s newsletter the Regional Studies Association-Irish Branch is jointly hosting a major symposium on local government reform. The Speakers have now been fully confirmed and details are set out in the following programme.
Theme
The Programme for Government sets out to reform local government and the local environment generally. The existing system of County and Town Authorities is likely to be streamlined. This will, in practical terms, include the merging of a limited number of County Authorities, the amalgamation of senior management teams and a significant reduction in middle management numbers. The alignment of local government and local development is also being advanced. This symposium will examine the possibility of reform and whether it is realistic to think that substantial reform can make a difference to the role local government could and should play in Ireland.
This symposium will be of interest to all members of the Regional Studies Association of Ireland and the Political Studies Association of Ireland. The Symposium is also open to members and officials of local government, board members and chief executives of local development companies as well as members of the Oireachtas and officials in central government.
Programme
10.00-10.15 Registration and coffee
10.15-10.30 Welcome:
Professor Jim Walsh, Vice-President, NUIM
Dr. Chris van Egeraat, NUIM, Chairman Regional Studies Association –Irish Branch
10.30-10.45 Overview and Chair
Dr. Seán Ó’Riordáin, Regional Studies Association –Irish Branch and Director, Public Policy Advisors Network
10.45-11.30 Is bigger better? Myths and Realities of Economies of Scale in Local Government
Dr. Mark Callanan IPA, Dr. Prionnias Breathnacht, NUIM
11.30-12.00 Local Government reform-A European Perspective
Mr Frank Gensler, Deputy Mayor and City Manager, Neuss, Germany
12.00-12.45 Meeting the democratic deficit-Building on participation
Councillor Dermot Lacey, Dublin City Council, Councillor Ted Howlin, Chairman, Association of Municipal Authorities of Ireland, and Dr Clodagh Harris, UCC
12.45-13.30 Light Lunch
Overview and Chair: Mr. Joe Mulholland
13.30-14.00 Place-based leadership – international insights on future roles for local government
Professor Robin Hambleton, Professor of City Leadership, University of the West of England, Bristol and Director of Urban Answers
14.00-14.30 Driving Reform from within-Lessons on Reform in Northern Ireland.
Mr. Ashley Boreland, Chief Executive Officer, Ards Borough Council
14.30-15.15 Returning to Barrington: Time for real change?
Dr. Ruth Barrington, Dr. Brid Quinn UL, Ms. Carmel Fox, Chief Executive Ballyhoura Development Ltd., Dr Pat Gallagher, County Manager, Offaly Co Council
15.15-16.00 Panel Discussion:
Facilitator: Dr. Deiric O’Broin, DCU, Deputy Chairman, Local Government Specialist Group, Political Studies Association of Ireland.
Registration Details
Registration fee: 50 Euro including lunch
Online Registration at:
http://www.bookyourplace.ie/local-government-reform-page.html
For conference updates see:
http://www.regional-studies-assoc.ac.uk/international-networks/rsair.asp
For further information: sean@seanoriordain.ie
