Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 17 Apr 1997

Vol. 477 No. 7

Written Answers. - Public Libraries.

Ivor Callely

Question:

50 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Education her views on whether our public libraries are of enormous benefit to the community, in particular school-going children and students, for the purposes of information, availability and research; if she will give details of her support for developing such facilities, in particular for school-going children and students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10064/97]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

Public libraries are of great benefit to the community. They are useful for school-going children and for students for the purposes of accessing information and for conducting small scale research projects. They are particularly useful for helping to cultivate and develop an interest in reading. Public libraries also constitute an important resource for lifelong learning.

The development of the public library services is a matter for the Minister for the Environment. My Department co-operates with the Department of the Environment in providing a library service to all primary schools. The scheme operates through the payment of aper capita grant to the chief librarian in respect of the total number of pupils enrolled in each local authority area. The local authority librarians select, purchase and deliver books to primary schools. My Department made total payments of £946,666 to local authorities in the year ending 31 December 1996 under this scheme. A similar level of funding from my Department is envisaged for the year 1997. Local authorities supplement and, in some cases, exceed my Department's grant in operating this scheme.

The local authorities do not provide library services to second level schools, as they do for primary schools. However, my Department makes grants towards the running costs of second level schools, including costs of school libraries. School authorities purchase books for their own school libraries out of these grants and also encourage their students to avail of the public library services.