Anne Ferris (Wicklow, Labour)
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I raise this issue as as a Wicklow Deputy and as a member of the Oireachtas consultation group on centenary commemorations and I ask the Minister to restore the essential local history service to Ballywaltrim Library in Bray, County Wicklow. Historical research is the cornerstone of everything the country wishes to portray during the centenary commemorations, which have started and which will continue until 2022. Local historical research is the aspect of historical study that links today's communities/with the lives of their ancestors. Validating those links is the work of professional historians, genealogists and librarians. The work of such professionals underpinned the impressive tourism drive the country witnessed during the successful project, The Gathering, last year. The images of US First Lady, Michelle Obama, and her daughters visiting beautiful Glendalough were beamed across continents and deemed to be a tourism success. Let us not forget that their visit began in the world famous Trinity College library at the end of this street where they were guided through their Irish heritage by historians, genealogists and librarians.

We are surrounded by fine libraries. Members not only have access to a world class research service within the well-stocked Oireachtas Library but the library also has strong links with the National Library next door and Trinity College library up the street. The people of County Wicklow and people worldwide who proudly claim links to the county also deserve access to their history and heritage through their local library service.

In a week Dublin City Council drew a firm dividing line between the people of Dublin and people from mainly outside Dublin who had bought tickets to a concert in Croke Park, let us be careful about creating a wider cultural divide between Dublin and the rest of the country. Let us face it. The Obamas were lucky to have access to a Dublin library. On 28 June 2014, the world's media reported on the events that started the First World War, one hundred years previously. A day later, 29 June, the only public historical research service in County Wicklow closed its doors to the public because Ballywaltrim library, where it is based, no longer has available library staff.

Researchers engaged in valuable First World War local studies during a globally important centenary year have been told to go away. The publicly owned material they need is no longer available for public consumption. Are Wicklow's First World War dead to wait another hundred years? Will Wicklow have a local studies service in time to enable historians to complete work on important 1916 and 1922 research? What of the hotels and restaurants and visitor destinations that will lose out from the wider tourism impact of the closure of Wicklow's local studies service at this critical time?

Librarian skills are needed to curate the valuable collection of books, journals, newspapers, maps and other materials that are essential to the research work of academics, historians, genealogists, local people and visitors who rely on the services in Ballywaltrim library. These professionals are a valued source of expert advice for researchers. Will the Minister support the application by Wicklow County Council to recruit librarian staff to enable the local studies service to be restored without delay?

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. Wicklow County Council operates 13 public libraries across the county, plus its mobile library and library headquarters. In 2012, there were 489,669 visits to the library service. Local authorities have seen a significant reduction in staffing numbers over the last few years, and while this has assisted in the re-balancing of public service costs, it has brought challenges in service delivery for local authorities, including the library service. Decisions on the delivery of library services are matters for local authorities and my Department has no direct role in the delivery or prioritisation of those services. Wicklow County Council has responded flexibly to staff shortages in its libraries so as to maintain the fullest possible level of service. This has included libraries in some cases having fewer staff on duty, but continuing to operate.

In the case of Greystones Library, a recent staff retirement caused management to examine all options to sustain a strong level of service, including weekend and evening opening. To deliver this, the local authority made the decision to relocate a staff member from the Ballywaltrim local history studies service to Greystones Library to sustain the core number of staff required to operate the library. This was a decision of the local authority and took into account the fact that Greystones Library has a membership of 25,709 and issues more than 500,000 items per annum. The local studies section at Ballywaltrim Library in Bray was staffed by one person and was open 24 hours per week until the council's decision on its temporary closure on 1 July.

The other action taken by the county council in respect of dealing with staffing numbers and the delivery of services is the recent submission to my Department, on 24 June, of staff sanction requests for the filling of a number of vacancies in Wicklow County Council's library service. I was surprised these requests were not made earlier. The requests are being considered by my Department and I will ask if we can expedite the decisions. Pending the outcome of the sanction requests, the county council will continue to make decisions on where and how to deploy its resources. I hope my Department can deal quickly with the recent staffing request which could help Wicklow County Council to reopen the Ballywaltrim local history studies service and provide the service that existed up to 1 July.

Anne Ferris (Wicklow, Labour)
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I thank the Minister and agree it is surprising that Wicklow County Council did not apply earlier for staff funding, as the retirement of the person in Greystones would not have happened overnight and must have come as no surprise. There are questions to be raised in this regard. As Members of this House, we have a responsibility to Ireland's future, present and proud past. Local communities are the true custodians of their local history, and the library service is an essential support to communities. Without professional recording and curating of history, inaccuracies creep in and question marks begin to hang over the authenticity of heritage. Ireland and Wicklow have proud heritages, and the caretaking of that heritage must be supported.

The public library service in Bray is a year older than the Labour Party. The first free library opened its doors to the public in Bray in 1911. That library, on Eglinton Road, still provides a vital service and was joined in the millennium year by the new building in Ballywaltrim, which I was very proud to open as then cathaoirleach of Bray Town Council. In 2000, the library service in Wicklow was preparing for a bright future. Like all public services, it has suffered significantly from the effects of economic mismanagement by the previous Government. Wicklow has already sacrificed 11 library staff to local authority cost saving measures. The service has reached an unacceptable limit. For Wicklow to protect its heritage,librarians must be hired again.

Again, I welcome the Minister's positive response and I am sure he will see what he can do to ensure funding is available. The council has applied for four additional staff for County Wicklow. It is outrageous that somebody was moved from Bray to Greystones because of a retirement. There seemed to be no planning there. In this centenary year the service must be reopened.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I assure the Deputy that the closure of Ballywaltrim local history service is regretted. It was done to minimise the impact on Greystones. As part of the staff sanction application process, the Department must consult with the libraries development section at the Local Government Management Agency, and this is under way. The agency provides oversight for all library services and will have regard to the historical context of which the Deputy spoke and her personal interest in this facility for the people of County Wicklow. On the conclusion of this debate I will make inquiries to ensure no time is lost in getting Wicklow County Council the necessary approval to restore the Ballywaltrim local history studies service as soon as possible.