Governance of reform in the Irish public service

In the academic literature governance is a contested term. It is about how organisations are run and the oversight and accountability that are encompassed in this process. However, it can also be viewed in terms of delivery, ‘getting things done’. In the public service this equates to implementing government policy, which is why the term is sometimes seen as synonymous with public management. Collaborative governance recognises that delivering on many government policies requires different sectors and levels of government working across organisational boundaries. This presents its own additional set of challenges. This paper reviews the governance of public service reform since the financial crisis in 2011. This is a policy area that clearly requires a ‘joined-up’ approach. The paper uses a governance framework that emerged from an extensive research programme between the Environmental Protection Agency and the Institute of Public Administration examining water governance arrangements. While it is clear that governance matters a great deal, achieving it in practice can be complex. This paper identifies strengths and weaknesses in respect of the governance of public service reform and makes recommendations for improvements.