Abstract

A major review of public administration in Northern Ireland has resultedin proposals for radical reforms in health, education and local government services.Although originating from the devolved government of 1999, intermittent suspensionsresulted in Direct Rule Ministers taking over responsibility for the review. This articletraces the influence of a sizeable body of research evidence on the outcomes of thereview, specifically controversial reforms to local government, and the significantinfluence attached to macro political factors in reaching key public policy decisions. Italso highlights the asymmetry in power relations between Stormont and localgovernment and how devolution has simply compounded regional centralism inNorthern Ireland.