Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will reiterate what I said in case it is not clear enough for Deputy Barry. When I said I understand, it means I understand and am aware of the concerns of the staff involved, just as Deputy Barry does. I do not say I agree with all the concerns. I reiterate that the shared library management model is not about an amalgamation of the library service; rather it is an enhancement of the senior management structure across the designated local authorities and the library authorities. The thinking behind the model is to increase the capacity of smaller local authorities to deliver library services on a comparative basis to those in larger authorities. I accept that Deputy Barry represents parts of Cork but I represent rural areas as well as urban areas and I am always being told that people can get more in urban library services and why can people not get the same service in rural areas. Local communities want their libraries to continually expand, adapt to new realities and to provide more and better services. Such services involve providing access for students to go to libraries at weekends to do research or study because they can get WiFi there and they cannot get it down the road. That is what I mean when I refer to adapting the service. Libraries are doing that very well and I compliment all the staff on doing that. Deputy Barry should not try to mix my words when I am complimenting the work library staff are doing in delivering a local service. That is what we are trying to do - put libraries in a better position to be able to do that.

The thinking behind the model is to enhance the opportunities for access and to give a better service as well. The library service will remain the sole responsibility of the respective authority, as will the financing of those services, and each library service will be branded as it is currently. Notwithstanding that, I am aware of the concerns of IMPACT members on the proposed approach. That is the reason we are engaging with the respective authorities to explore alternative approaches that might yield the same result. We are open to other options. If Deputy Barry can make suggestions that will give the same result, we are prepared to look at them, which is a strong staffing structure with the capacity to deliver a high-quality service across the library service. That is what we are doing, and when I engage with people who work in the library service that is what they want to be part of as well. They are proud of what they do because they realise that the number of people using library services is increasing by the week and by the year. We are trying to build on that. I cannot stress sufficiently the importance of the local library. It is one of the most important assets we have in communities.

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