Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 March 2015
654. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce a system of charges for the use of local authority library services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13128/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraLibrary fees and charges are operational matters for local authorities and the funding of the library service is decided by each local authority in the process of adopting the budget by the elected members. The strategy for public libraries 2013 – 2017, Opportunities for All, provides that my Department will work with local authorities and the Libraries Development Unit of the Local Government Management Agency to investigate models of service provision in terms of value for money and effectiveness, with a view to enabling free access to core information, learning and cultural services by 2017. In line with this measure and in the context of the implementation of a single library management system for all library services across the country by June 2016, the business case for the removal of membership charges by all authorities is being examined.
