Library Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 November 2016

Thursday, 24 November 2016

Questions (108, 109, 110, 111, 112)

Gerry Adams

Question:

108. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the rationale for the proposed roll-out of staffless libraries. [36585/16]

Gerry Adams

Question:

109. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will provide, by county, the libraries proposed for staffless libraries. [36586/16]

Gerry Adams

Question:

110. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the consultation that has taken place with communities and library staff and existing services in advance of plans for staffless libraries roll-out; and the outcome of any such consultations. [36587/16]

Gerry Adams

Question:

111. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to concerns that the proposed staffless libraries roll-out may negatively impact on persons with a disability; his plans to address these concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36588/16]

Gerry Adams

Question:

112. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown for the proposed costs per county in rolling out staffless libraries, in tabular form. [36589/16]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 108 to 112, inclusive, together.

‘My Open Library ’ is an initiative under Opportunities for All, the national public library strategy 2013-2017 and is part of a strategy to address customer demand. It allows library members the freedom and flexibility to use the library at times that suit them. It provides additional opening hours from 8am to 10pm, seven days-per-week, ensuring access to library services for users who cannot avail of them during regular staffed hours.

It is planned to extend the ‘My Open Library’ pilot to a further 23 branches from January 2017, following a successful initial trial in Tullamore, Banagher and Tubbercurry libraries from November 2014. My ‘Open Library’ does not impact on the number of staffed hours, with staff continuing to provide professional services during normal staffed hours. The pilot libraries are fully accessible in compliance with statutory accessibility requirements for public buildings. The ‘My Open Library’ service does not impact on this accessibility. The aim of the extended pilot is to gather further learning, improving elements that need further development and developing a model that may be rolled-out on a mainstream basis in the longer term.

The provision and management of library services is a matter for each local authority in its capacity as library authority under the Local Government Act 2001, and this includes delivery of the ‘My Open Library’ service. Accordingly, consultation with library staff and library users regarding the implementation of My Open Library is a matter for each local authority. My Department has no direct role in these matters.

The library branches operating the service, the indicative cost of each and the indicative Department contributions are detailed in the following table.

County	Library Branch	Indicative Cost	Indicative Department Contribution
Carlow	Mhuine Bheag	€36,000	€27,000
Cavan	Johnstown, Cavan	€85,000	€63,750*
Clare	Ennis	€79,138	€59,355
Donegal	Buncrana	€80,070	€60,054*
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown	Deansgrange	€27,200	€20,400
Galway	Oranmore	€82,550	€61,915
Galway	Ballinasloe	€24,400	€18,300
Kilkenny	Castlecomer	€70,681	€53,010
Laois	Portarlington	€41,550	€31,165
Limerick	Cappamore	€50,000	€37,500
Longford	Ballymahon	€31,610	€23,710
Louth	Ardee	€252,650	€189,490
Mayo	Swinford	€46,500	€34,875
Mayo	Ballina	€81,000	€60,750
Meath	Trim	€80,800	€60,600
Monaghan	Carickmacross	€64,100	€48,075
Offaly	Ferbane	€73,750	€55,315
Offaly	Edenderry	€67,150	€50,365
Tipperary	Nenagh	€79,335	€59,500*
Waterford	Dungarvan	€58,500	€43,875
Westmeath	Moate	€43,536	€32,650
Wexford	Gorey	€40,430	€30,325
Wicklow	Arklow	€25,400	€19,050

* The indicative amounts for Johnstown, Buncrana and Nenagh are VAT inclusive. All other allocations are net of VAT; however, the Department’s contribution will cover the VAT element.