The Office for Local Authority Management (OLAM) is a division of the Local Government Management Services Board (LGMSB). It was established in 2004, at the initiative of the County and City Managers' Association (CCMA), with the support of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.
OLAM has a number of functions:
- It provides analysis and research on aspects of local government;
- It represents the views of the local authority system externally - to the media and to other interested parties;
- It provides information on the work of local authorities – through Reports, Factsheets, Press Releases and DVD;
- It reports annually to the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government on the performance of local authorities on 42 Service Indicators;
- It engages with other relevant organisations e.g. the Department of Environment Heritage and Local Government, the Department of Transport, other local government representative associations, IBEC, Chambers of Commerce Ireland, Office of the Ombudsman etc;
- It is the headquarters of the County and City Managers' Association (CCMA) and provides support to the committees of that Association.
The work of the CCMA itself is carried out through a series of sub-committees - each involved in a specific aspect of the work of local authorities. At present there are subcommittees for:
- Community, Social and Economic Development;
- The Environment;
- Local Government Finance;
- Housing;
- Water Services;
- Land Use and Transportation.