Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 February 2023
87. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the little book bag initiative; the number of books that have been distributed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6004/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Little Library is an initiative under the First 5 Strategy.
It is led by my Department, with the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD) and the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) and is funded under Dormant Accounts Funding.
Under the Little Library Initiative 2021, 4,500 early learning and childcare services, including childminders, were offered an opportunity to connect with their local library and receive a series of book bags.
Book bags were made available in May and again in October 2021, to ensure early learning and childcare services build a library of quality books for young children, and to encourage them to make greater use of their local library. Books were made available in the Irish and English language. In addition, accessible versions of some titles were developed by the National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI).
Under the Little Library Initiative 2022 - My Little Library - a free book bag with storybooks and resources was offered to every 4 and 5 year old who started school in September 2022.
The children received an invitation to participate in the initiative through their early learning and care setting.
The objective of this initiative was that all children starting school in September 2022 would have storybooks in their home and be members of their local library.
My Little Library was available in English and Irish.
The initiative ran from Easter to the October bank holiday. Of the 60,000 book bags that were provided to the libraries, 51,000 book bag pickups were reported. All remaining book bags are being held by the libraries for future use.
Over 24,000 children in the target age group have joined the library since the initiative started and a further 10,000 children have renewed their library membership.
An evaluation of the First 5 Little Library initiative is currently underway.
