14. Local State-Society Relations in Ireland

This chapter provides an overview of four Irish examples of local state-society networks, namely strategic policy committees, local community development committees, local development companies and Comhairle na nÓg (youth councils). The strategic policy committees and local community development committees are formalized institutional, multisectoral committees that exist in each local authority. The former are self-reflective networks while the latter are delegated networks. The Comhairle na nÓg are largely ceremonial networks, while the more autonomous local development companies are consociational networks. The recent Irish experience of local state-society networks is of the increasing formalization of the structures that exist to bring local government and civil society together.