ABSTRACT
The Irish government has engaged in an experimental new localism in recent years, in an effort to address persistent problems of long-term unemployment, poverty and social exclusion (Walsh, Craig and McCafferty 1998). At the core of this new approach lies the establishment of over 100 local partnerships, which bring together state agencies, business, trade unions and community groups, to promote local socio-economic development in mainly disadvantaged rural and urban areas. Local communities play a lead role in these local partnerships, in terms of identifying community needs, harnessing resources and delivering new services. The European Union is also a key player in this local approach, both by providing most of the funding for local partnerships and through influencing the contents of the overall programme.
