Is federalism the solution to peoples' disillusionment?

I think it is, or at least one solution. Many people are turning to the ultra-populist parties not out of disdain towards foreigners or the like, but more out of frustration at the lack of control over their lives compared to the parents or grandparents. In Ireland, this is compounded by the fact that all major decisions concerning local communities are made or guided by Dublin with the communities themselves having very little input. And this in turn leads to clientelism and corruption, which Ireland has seen far too much of in recent years. Even allowing for the fact that one national police force was probably necessary at a time when the State itself was under threat, that threat is now practically non-existent and instead we now have Gardai exaggerating breath test statistics in addition to the awful treatment meted out to Sgt. Maurice McCabe. Now, corruption will exist in any police force, and it is overly optimistic to think that devolution will solve this, but I do think that the creation of regional police forces would go a long way towards restoring public trust in the Gardai, since control would be located in regional centres closer to communities than is currently the case. The Gardai would remain, but its priorities would now be nationwide crime as opposed to a local level, which would be covered by the new forces.

The Gardai are just one example, but I can think of many others. Anybody else want to share their thoughts?