Local Government Reform: community planning and the quality of life in Northern Ireland

Local government in Northern Ireland has undergone a significantreform process in terms of both the number of councils (from twenty-six to eleven) and their functional responsibilities. Councils inNorthern Ireland have always been regarded as the ‘poor relation’ ofcentral government or non-departmental public bodies which delivermany of the services performed by local government in other parts ofthe UK (education, social services, housing). The reforms in NorthernIreland, while devolving relatively minor additional functions, offercouncils a significant role in community planning – the legal power tohold central departments to account for services provided by them inlocal areas. This paper argues that councils can use this power toimprove the quality of life of their inhabitants.