Written Answers. - School Libraries.
David Stanton
Question:
194
Mr. Stanton
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
if funding is available to enable the Cork County library service to purchase a schools mobile library vehicle to allow service to be provided to Walterstown primary school, Cobh, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[4889/02]
My Department makes a grant available to each local authority on an annual basis to enable local authority librarians select, purchase, and deliver books to the primary schools. The grant is based on the number of pupils enrolled in primary schools in each local authority area. The total value of the grant in 2001 was approximately €1.32 million. It is a matter, for each local authority as to whether it provides a mobile library service for the schools in its area. My Department has no involvement in the operation or financing of this service.
In implementation of Branching Out, the comprehensive review of public library policy that was published in October 1998, a working group was established in May 2000 to explore all of the issues relating to the schools library service. My Department, the Department of the Environment and Local Government, An Comhairle Leabhar lanna and the library authorities are represented on the group. The work of the group is ongoing.
I am very conscious of the need to ensure that all schools have access to proper library facilities and resources. In this regard, in addition to the funding that my Department provides to local authorities on an annual basis, two grants have issued in recent years from my Department directly to primary and post primary schools to assist them with the development of their library resource materials. The first grant was issued by my Department in December 1998. At that time all primary schools received a grant of £1,000 per school, while schools designated as disadvantaged received £3,170 each. The grant that issued to second level schools in December 1998 amounted to £2,500, while disadvantaged schools received £5,320.
A second grant issued to all primary and post primary schools in December 1999 as part of the national reading initiative. Under the terms of this grant primary schools received a payment of £7.70 per pupil, while a minimum grant of £462 was issued to all schools with 60 pupils or less. Post primary schools also received £7.70 per pupil, while a minimum grant of £1,540 was paid to all schools with less than 200 recognised pupils. At primary level the total value of these two grants was approximately £7.7 million, while at second level the two grants amounted to £5.2 million.
David Stanton
Question:
195
Mr. Stanton
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
the amount made available by his Department to the county and city library services each year for the past four years to provide book stock for schools; if he is satisfied that all primary schools can avail of a library service; his plans to improve the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[4890/02]
My Department makes a grant available to each local authority on an annual basis to enable local authority librarians select, purchase, and deliver books to the primary schools in its area. The grant is based on the number of pupils enrolled in primary schools in each local authority area. The total value of the grant in the years from 1998 to 2001 is set out in the following table:
|
Year
|
Total Grant
|
|
1998
|
€1.24 million
|
|
1999
|
€1.26 million
|
|
2000
|
€1.28 million
|
|
2001
|
€1.32 million
|
A detailed breakdown of the funding provided to individual local authorities during the years 1998- 2001 is being compiled within my Department and will be sent to the Deputy shortly. It is a matter, however, for each local authority to provide a library service for the schools in its area. My Department has no involvement in the operation of this service.
In implementation of branching out, the comprehensive review of public library policy that was published in October 1998, a working group was established in May 2000 to explore all of the issues relating to the schools library service. My Department, the Department of the Environment and Local Government, An Comhairle Leabharlanna and the library authorities are represented on the group. The work of the group is ongoing.
I am very conscious of the need to ensure that all schools have access to proper library facilities and resources. In this regard, in addition to the funding that my Department provides to local authorities on an annual basis, two grants have issued in recent years from my Department directly to primary and post-primary schools to assist them with the development of their library resource materials. The first grant was issued by my Department in December 1998. At that time all primary schools received a grant of approximately €1,269 per school, while schools designated as disadvantaged received €4,025 each. The grant that issued to second level schools in December 1998 amounted to €3,174 while disadvantaged schools received €6,755.
A second grant issued to all primary and post-primary schools in December 1999 as part of the national reading initiative. Under the terms of this grant primary schools received a payment of €9.78 per pupil, while a minimum grant of €586.62 was issued to all schools with 60 pupils or less. Post-primary schools also received €9.78 per pupil, while a minimum grant of €1955.40 was paid to all schools with less than 200 recognised pupils. At primary level the total value of these two grants was approximately €9.78 million, while at second level the two grants amounted to €6.60 million.
