Pat Cox
Question:11 Mr. Cox asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht his views on the way in which the public library service could be linked in a more formal manner with his Department.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Public Library Service.
Austin Currie
Question:29 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the liaison, if any, there has been between himself and the Department of the Environment in relation to the programme for new libraries; and the plans, if any, he has in relation to the further use of libraries as centres of culture and arts.
Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna 11 agus 29 le chéile.
Responsibility for the development and operation of the public library service rests in the first instance with the relevant local authorities. My colleague, the Minister for the Environment, deals with public library matters at central level. As I said when discussing my Department's Estimates for the current year with the Select Committee on Social Affairs on 21 May, I feel that public libraries are of great importance and I am considering what steps could be taken to increase my Department's involvement with this important sector of our cultural life.
Would the Minister acknowledge that the public library service has been starved of funds, particularly in the last ten years, and that it is now evident that library development is no longer a priority for the Department of the Environment and local authorities? In those circumstances would the Minister not consider taking the bold step of bringing the public library service under the ambit of the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, which is the appropriate Department to deal with this matter?
I thank Deputy Quill for her usual generosity and her high esteem of my Department. However, such bold steps of extending that for which I am responsible would have to be negotiated with Cabinet. I am not happy with present library funding. I am particularly unhappy that stocks of children's books have fallen. I am having discussions in regard to my involvement in this matter. It may not be necessary to seek changes which would transfer functions from one Department to the other. Maybe I will be able to make some progress through the Library Council. I share the Deputy's concern about the importance of libraries.
Will the Minister acknowledge that local authorities, Kildare for instance, have not given as much as one brown penny to the book fund in the past three years and that in a number of local authority areas it has been run into the ground? As the Minister rightly acknowledges, in many cases, the children's book fund has been particularly neglected. In the light of that, will he consider bringing forward a Green Paper or a discussion document on the library services to open up the debate so that we can see how best the whole matter may be addressed in the light of emerging circumstances?
The preparation of a Green Paper is not my function as responsibility for the library service rests with another Department. However, I am pleased to tell the Deputy that during the Danish Presidency, the Danish Ministry of Culture launched a European campaign in Copenhagen on 23 April 1993 in relation to books and reading, which will go on until September 1994. It is planned to launch the Irish section of this campaign in the autumn and the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht has already met a number of organisations concerned. Perhaps when we launch the campaign in favour of books and reading this autumn it will be an opportunity for making the case for the value of reading, and the importance of books and public libraries. I hope the publicity that will attach to this campaign on which my Department has already approached many different organisations such as the Irish Writers' Union, publishers, the National Library and so on will be an opportunity to draw public attention to and impress on public representatives the importance of ensuring that in the preparation of Estimates there is special provision this year for libraries.
Will the Minister use his influence to have a discussion document on library development drawn up this autumn, or as soon as possible, in conjunction with the activities he has outlined?
I will certainly raise with the Minister for the Environment the issue of reviewing the present position in relation to libraries and I have had preliminary discussions with the Minister for Education because libraries in schools are also very important. In the campaign for which I will have responsibility in the autumn, I will invite all those with responsibility for libraries to use that opportunity. The campaign goes on in Europe until 1994 so although television is not in competition with book reading, in a televisual age it is appropriate to look at the value of books and reading.
Will the Minister agree that libraries not only have a relationship with the Department of the Environment but that there is a distinct role for them in the educational sphere? Rather than taking the libraries from local authorities, with which I disagree, some structure should be found for ensuring that the multifaceted aspects of libraries — educational and literacy areas and the need for study areas in urban areas and so on — are catered for. We need a structure to deal with all these facets of libraries rather than simply taking it under one Ministry.
There is merit to this. What is involved is how we envisage the library service. The history of the library movement is closely associated with the development of democracy. The library movement in Britain in the last century and earlier was associated with the extension of the right to read, the right to participate and the right to vote. It is one of the most powerful butresses of popular participation. That is its history. It is now in a new phase and obviously it must be clear that people of all ages should have access to a good library service. The location of libraries and branches of libraries in communities should be seen as part of the cultural infrastructure. It really is a matter of trying to make adequate provision for them, of making them accessible and flexible so that they can deal with the new situation. That is perhaps more important than where they are located.
I am quite sure the Minister is aware that despite the fact the book fund might be starved in Kildare, the libraries in Kildare were well and truly established long ago as cultural and artistic centres by virtue of the activities of a number of librarians. In view of this, will the Minister have due regard to the need to allow the libraries to compete adequately with modern technology in terms of television, computers, videos and so on? Will the Minister contact his ministerial colleagues with a view to ensuring that the library service is allowed to compete?
I am delighted that the House has such confidence in my influence over my colleagues. I will certainly make that case. One of the ways of ensuring there is no conflict between new forms of technology is to enable tapes — as well as books and videos — to be available. In that way the aural, visual and so on will not be in competition. As to the comments on Kildare's provision, all I can say is that Deputy Durkan should remember that like the Skibbereen eagle, Deputy Quill has her eye on him and will no doubt be watching Kildare's provision at the end of the year.