John Whelan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I appeal to colleagues across the political divide to support me with regard to libraries. They are at the heart and soul of our communities, particularly in regional and small rural towns.

Some people who are involved in local government management - quite frankly, I would classify them as bean counters - are trying to make names for themselves by planning to merge library services across whole swathes of the country. I am fearful that the library services in counties such as Laois, Offaly, Longford, Westmeath, Carlow, Kilkenny, Sligo, Leitrim and Roscommon will lose their local identities, their autonomy and their importance in communities. I think we should work together on this, so I am not making a political point when I mention that the libraries in Timahoe, which is the village I come from, and Clonaslee in County Laois were closed at a previous time. Seven of the ten remaining libraries in the county are staffed by a single person. Now it is proposed to have staffless libraries. I am not against rationalisation, value for money or new technologies, but I have never heard anything as daft in all my life. A library is not just about books - it is also about people. Library services are provided by people for people. A staffless library would be a soulless, lifeless and useless library that would ultimately close. This is the thin end of the wedge. Libraries are at the heart of our communities. The local library is the last remaining public building in many towns. It is at the heart of social interaction, education and learning and arts and culture in such towns. I appeal to the Leader to ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to come here to discuss the policy on this issue. We need to nip this in the bud by putting an end to this nonsense. Rural Ireland has seen enough closures of facilities and amenities. We cannot talk the talk about preserving rural Ireland while pursuing policies such as this at the same time.