Vol. 550 No. 2
489 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his Department has a library or if another library comes under the aegis of his Department; the way in which staff are recruited to such libraries; if there are vacancies at the present time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7647/02]
There are a number of libraries based in various areas throughout my Department and associated agencies. There is an information resource unit or library in my Department's head office which is staffed by general service grade staff.
The judges library forms part of the service provided by the Courts Service to members of the Judiciary and staff of the Courts Service. Recruitment of professional staff for this library is by way of open competition through the Civil Service Commission. At present there is a vacancy at assistant librarian level and advertisements for the position will be placed in the national newspapers shortly.
The prisons library service manages nine branches in Dublin, Portlaoise and the Curragh. This service was initiated in 1981 by the Department in partnership with Dublin Corporation whose staff provide professional library services on an agency basis. In other institutions city or county librarians oversee and advise on the service. In Cavan the county library service assign a part-time assistant to run the prison library at Loughan House. In addition to the involvement of professional librarians, prison officers assist in the operation of library facilities on a day-to-day basis.
There are small libraries containing reference books in the Equality Authority, the Equality Investigations unit and the Reception Integration Agency. The libraries at the Equality Investigations unit and the Reception Integration Agency are run by their general staff. The Equality Authority employs a part-time librarian two hours per day who was recruited locally through an employment agency.
I am making inquiries in so far as the Garda Síochána is concerned and I will communicate further with the Deputy when the information is at hand.
