Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 9 Jun 1993

Vol. 432 No. 1

Written Answers. - School Libraries.

Mary Harney

Question:

68 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Education if she will make a special grant available for the provision of school libraries where they do not exist at present; if she has satisfied herself with the operation of the school library scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

Local authorities are grant-aided each year for the provision of a school library service.

This arrangement has been in place since 1971, and is operated through the Library Council. The grant is paid in respect of all primary school pupils in each local authority area. The money is distributed to the Chief Librarian of the local authority area and, supplemented by other funds at the disposal of the Chief Librarian, is used to buy books for lending or distribution to schools.

All local authorities participate in the scheme so every school has access to a lending and reference library service. In some rural areas the local authority provides a visiting library service for schools.

The library grant was increased in 1992 from 38p to 47p per pupil and I secured a further increase in 1993 which will bring the rate of grant to 50p per pupil.

In 1989 an allocation of £1 million was provided through national lottery funds for the replenishment of the stock of books used for the national schools library service.

In the case of second-level schools, my Department makes grants available for the running costs of the schools and it is open to schools to buy books for their libraries out of these grants. There is no specific library grant scheme in the case of these schools.