<p style="text-align: justify;">The International Centre for Local and Regional Development (ICLRD) will publish the fifth edition of <em>Borderlands: The Journal of Spatial Planning in Ireland</em> in Summer 2015. This edition of the journal will focus specifically on the concept of <strong>shared services</strong> and its application across the public sector. Since the late 2000's, there has been a growing emphasis on delivering back-office functions such as HR, IT and payroll through a shared services model in the public sector. More recently, there is an emerging confidence within the public sector - and particularly across local government - that, based on their competencies and local knowledge, they themselves are in a unique position to take a lead role in identifying, developing and implementing a shared services programme centred on front-line services.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">This edition of <em>Borderlands</em> aims to capture some of those experiences from across the island of Ireland and elsewhere in terms of the processes driving the implementation of shared services, the opportunities pursued, the challenges faced, the stakeholders involved, the organisational implications and the resulting services offered.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Those interested in submitting a paper should forward a 300-word abstract to Caroline Creamer, Acting Director of the ICLRD, at <a href="mailto:"caroline.creamer@nuim.ie"" target="_blank">caroline.creamer@nuim.ie</a> by close of business on Friday, 20th February 2015.</p>