Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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87. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will report on the progress of implementing the national public library strategy; the amount of funding allocated to the strategy; the current expenditure on the implementation of strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38316/25]

Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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We have spoken about libraries before but I want to get an update on the public library strategy and maybe discuss one or two issues around that.

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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The public library strategy was published in July 2023. It contains 66 actions which will enable our public libraries to become multipurpose social and educational spaces for all members of the community to enjoy. As I said in response to a previous last question, our libraries are now transformed into places of community activity. They are no longer just for reading and studying; there are men's sheds, women's sheds and different varieties of activities going on there. The libraries development committee, comprising representation from members of the Local Government Management Agency, the County and City Management Association, city and county librarians and my Department, is responsible for monitoring the implementation of actions in the strategy.

Significant progress has been made to date on the implementation of the strategy. Examples of actions under way are a national skills for life programme of resources and activities which will see 684 events take place throughout the country this year, and the fact that age-friendly recognition has been achieved in every library. The My Open Library service continues to expand and is now available in 55 branches. A national public libraries open day took place this year and almost 1,350 new members were registered. Our Department continues to work with all the local authorities, the LGMA and all other partners and stakeholders to deliver on the ongoing actions.

I am delighted to support the strategy with continued investment. Since the launch of the strategy two years ago, our Department has approved expenditure of €28.3 million for libraries, including capital funding. A total of €8.3 million has been spent to date. In this context I would like to acknowledge the financial contributions made by local authorities from their own resources. I would also like to note the financial contributions made by various other stakeholders in the delivery of the strategy. The Minister, Deputy Calleary, and I are committed to developing the national library strategy.

Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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I did not come in on Deputy McGreehan's question because I wanted to leave it until this one. I totally believe it is important to have multipurpose facilities. I want to raise an issue that has come up in respect of a couple of locations. We have derelict buildings, old former schools in rural areas. A number of people have come together to form book clubs and heritage and historical societies in those buildings. The query I have relates to that multipurpose function whereby a library or a history club can be developed and make use of that community building. Will the Minister support that? Can we see funding for it? It is a very good use of buildings. We have spoken previously about the major libraries in major towns and the amount of very welcome investment going in there. However, rural communities want to take over buildings, some of which are derelict, and form book clubs or heritage and historical societies. It is a great use of the building and a great fit for the library service as well to link in with those community buildings.

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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I was contacted recently by a student living in Balbriggan. He told me that he is there every morning 20 minutes before the library opens because there is a massive queue of people. That is a ringing endorsement of the work done by the people working in Balbriggan library and indeed all our libraries - I understand we in north County Dublin are not unique in that respect. Will the Minister give consideration to conducting a small survey, with reference to the previous point made, about utilising any existing capacity that might be within a town to expand that space? It is a really positive and good thing that people are actively trying to get into the library but it is unfortunate that sometimes they are turned away. We are in the middle of a housing crisis and many people live in very overcrowded accommodation. The library has never been more important in our towns, cities and villages. Will the Minister consider doing that survey to see where there might be a need for additional resources or additional capacity?

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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There is huge merit in those suggestions. I am certainly very open to that. Athy library was mentioned as an example. Birr library is another example. In other parts of the country refurbished buildings are, through a variety of means, being used. Our libraries are now community spaces. They are being used by a variety of people. Our traditional library has changed, thankfully, from a place where you cannot talk, just read, to one where there is an open door for communities. Our Department recognises the importance of public libraries in our communities. It is about community and about people. I recognise the significance of the capital investment. To answer Deputy O'Reilly, I am open to any suggestions because I am a big advocate for libraries. As a member of the local authority, long before I was elected here, I was involved in the Cork city library committee. As the Deputy said, the library is a place for people. It was the only place where people could get educated. They could get books. I remember going to the mobile library as a child and wondering when we would get a library in Bishopstown. I will happily sit down and talk to the Deputies about that. If we can improve the offering for people in communities, why not do it?

Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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I thank the Minister of State for the positive reply. I want to mention two issues he brought up, namely, the age-friendly aspect and sensory rooms. They are important as part of our libraries. I welcome the fact that the Government has recognised that. I urge the Government to continue to invest in sensory rooms in particular. I know from visiting my local library and other libraries the importance of inclusivity. Having a sensory room means libraries are inclusive. Everyone can be part of the community.

The issue of turning rural buildings into mobile libraries facilitating book clubs and history clubs is something the Government should look at. I look forward to working with the Minister and the Minister of State on that because there are so many issues. Multipurpose buildings in communities are bringing a bit of life back into rural Ireland again. It is a positive reply and I look forward to advancing that.

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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In regard to the sensory room issue, I was in Ennis library last week, where there is a sensory space. There was a mum with two kids in the sensory space and their joy and contemplative ease was phenomenal. I commend the staff in Ennis library on that space. It was breathtaking to see the way in which they were able to take a piece of the library floor area and use it for people with autism or other disabilities to go in and be at ease and at peace. I was struck by that. It is about the age-friendly recognition and that community piece. It is about ensuring that, as part of the strategy, we deliver on the 66 actions. It is also about ensuring that our libraries are the focal point for people and for communities. We are blessed with the staff in our libraries. They are wonderful people. I was struck by the local archive and local history sections in a number of libraries I visited in Waterford and Dungarvan. In my own city of Cork we have a wonderful public library and I hope we can transform the central library on Grand Parade in time. We are very fortunate with our library service. It is a jewel in the crown.