01429pab a2200133 454500008004000000100001600040245007100056260000900127300001100136520108200147650002601229650002101255773001901276180718b2015   xxu||||| |||| 00| 0 eng d  aQuinn, Brid  aLocal government reform  Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose?  c2015  ap.7-29  aThe perceived deficiencies in Irelandﾒs local government system have frequently been diagnosed, resulting in reports, White and Green Papers and action plans. This article reviews the main reform trajectories, paying particular attention to developments since 1971 and demonstrating that the reforms which did occur were affected by national and international developments. The form, functioning and financing of local government were recurrent themes in the reform documents, and these aspects are specifically examined. Political, administrative and decision-making structures are found to have been altered; the scope of existing functional programmes and the modes of implementation have changed noticeably; and, although the issue of local funding sources has been tackled, the centreﾒs financial hegemony has not been eliminated. Despite the insights of the reform documents, there is little evidence of a clear and consistent philosophy underpinning reform, so the cumulative changes represent a unique blend of innovation, incrementalism and entrenchment. - Reprodu  aAdministrative reform  aLocal government  aAdministration