Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

The Minister has given the impression that the system is quite flexible, that there is not an outright ban and that services can be delivered. He said that areas such as education and health are prioritised, does this mean that local authorities are prevented from recruiting people? In my area Fingal County Council has to reduce library hours significantly because on the one hand, it needs to open a new library in Donabate and on the other, several librarians have retired. The net impact is that the local authority has said that it cannot open the new facility unless it cuts hours in all the surrounding ones. This is a vital community service. In Rush, according to the census there are 9,000 people and over 6,500 are members of the library. There were 400 events there last year but now the library hours are being slashed. The Minister's party colleagues on the council took the unusual step of directing the County Manager to overturn this decision to reduce library hours. To do that they need 12 extra librarians to keep it open. What can the Minister's Department do in this case? Could those 12 people be recruited or is the council prevented from recruiting them? The Minister's answer would be very helpful to the people in the area and in illuminating the overall situation.

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