Local authority housing management reform in the Republic of Ireland: Progress to date - Impediments to future progress

The question of management has until recently been a largely neglected aspect of the local authority rented housing sector in the Republic of Ireland. However, recent trends have brought this deficiency into sharper focus. These include: its shrinking size relative to other tenures, increased residualization and a growing concern about anti-social behaviour on estates. In addition, central government expectations of better value for money and improved management performance within the public sector more generally have further spurred critical commentary and interest in this issue. This article assesses the impact which these pressures for reform have had on three key aspects of housing management. These are: strategic management, tenant participation in housing management, and responses to anti-social behaviour. It concludes that local authorities' progress in reforming these aspects of housing management has been impeded by internal organizational factors and their relationship with central government and considers how these impediments to reform might be overcome.