asked the Minister for Education the reason for the changes in the library service, as announced in the recent Green Paper, and how these proposals will be financed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Library Service.
4.
The Government's Green Paper "Partners in Education" stated that consideration might be given to the transfer of responsibility for the Public Library Service to the proposed local education councils. Because the library service is very much an educational one, it is appropriate in the context of establishing local education councils, to consider bringing the service under the aegis of those councils.
Precise details of funding arrangements have not been considered at this stage.
Would the Minister not consider that this service comes under the heading of reform of local government and that the piecemeal approach and the few lines in the Green Paper about the library service is not appropriate?
I am slightly at a loss to understand why the Deputy refers to this as piecemeal. The Green Paper was most carefully designed and included several new concepts, including that of possibly linking the library service more closely to the education service, as is done in Northern Ireland where the local education boards are known as the Local Education and Library Boards. I do not think this is piecemeal, but it is worth considering whether the library service might be more logically and closely involved with the education service. I did not intend it to be piecemeal.
Is the Minister satisfied with the present public library service?
As this service is not under my aegis, it would not be appropriate for me to say if I am satisfied with it.
What kind of costings have been done regarding the proposals to operate the library service with the local education committees?
As I said, costings have not been done in a very detailed way because we are still at the discussion stage of the document. However, there do not appear to be enormous costing implications in the proposal.
Is the Minister satisfied that sufficient cost benefit analysis has been carried out to justify considering the proposals?
I can assure the Deputy that no steps will be taken to implement legislation arising from any area in the Green Paper without extensive cost benefit analysis being done because the Government would have to consider such a step very seriously.
I agree it is important that substantial and comprehensive cost benefit analysis would be carried out, but does the Minister not agree it is rather strange that when VECs sought clarification of costing to enable them to forward a comprehensive response to her they got a total silence? Would she agree that that is unreasonable given the responsibility which is placed on the shoulders of VECs to come up with the kind of comprehensive response that would be needed?
The Department have invited the Irish Vocation Education Association to come into the Department for full clarification of these points. It could not be expected that the Department would enter into detailed discussions, separately, with 38 VECs. I am glad the committees are having such good discussions on the Green Paper and I look forward to their very welcome and considered views.
As regards clarification of the Green Paper, my Department wish to be as helpful as possible but the IVEA is the umbrella body for the VECs and we will be delighted to answer their questions.
Is the Minister saying that she is making cost benefit analysis available to the IVEA and the CEOs to enable them to form a full picture and to help them make their final response?
The Department will make available any figures they feel might be useful. I cannot say how feasible it would be for the Department to enter into detailed discussions on every VEC area——
Are there figures available?
I am calling Question No. 5.