County/City Development-Boards (CDBs) were established in the Republic of Ireland (ROI) in 2000 as new institutions of local governance, responsible for strategic local development and integrating public service delivery. Since then, little attention has been paid to evaluating their work. This study is concerned with the question of 'How can evaluation of the effectiveness of CDBs be improved?'. Its aim is to formulate and explore the potential for a model for policy development, implementation and evaluation for CDBs as institutions oflocal governance. The dissertation critically reviews the literature on governance and public policy evaluation as concepts of particular relevance, and social inclusion as an important domain of Irish local governance. Theory-based evaluation (TBE) is selected for evaluating governance. Within TBE a form of logic model, intervention logic (lVL) is identified for exploration as an appropriate model to apply to CDBs. Case study research design is used to examine a policy process in a CDB, using social inclusion in Offaly as an exemplifying case. The study combines analysis of primary documentary sources with outcomes of semi-structured individual and focus group interviews with eight key informants. These were active players in the Offaly Local Anti-Poverty Strategy (LAPS) policy process. Qualitative analysis of documentary evidence and interview transcripts identifies significant themes using a narrative approach to the policy cycle. A series of findings points to the importance, among other elements, of having an appropriate model to guide a policy initiative through the formulation, implementation and accountability phases of the policy cycle. The study concludes that IVL is feasible and appropriate for a 'managing for outcomes' policy such as the LAPS, subject to certain conditions. It also suggests that IVL is likely to have a broader relevance to policy making and implementation by Offaly CDB.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:557415 |
| Date | January 2012 |
| Creators | Gallagher, P. |
| Publisher | Queen's University Belfast |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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