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

To be clear, the Department has constantly stated it is open to discussing with chief executives and the LGMA the changes we want to introduce in some places. These changes should not and will not affect front-line services. If members of Sligo County Council decide to close a library for a week or two owing to their existing budget, that is not something we are asking them to do. The changes we are introducing are not focused on cost reduction but on enhancing the service provided. As they have not even been introduced, they are not the reason behind the closing of a library for a week or two during the summer. These are two separate issues. A local decision is just that, but our strategy will not affect library opening hours. We are introducing new initiatives. I have complimented front-line library services many times on the various initiatives they have tried. One on which they are working involves longer opening hours, in respect of which libraries may be accessed using swipe cards and pin numbers without the need for any staff member to be present out of hours. In some cases, libraries are open everyday, including Christmas Day, for example, in Tullamore and Tubbercurry and a third location. The pilot scheme has worked well and is being extended. Libraries can remain open for longer hours without the need for staff to be present. That is an option. The idea for this reform came from the library service. We are constantly trying to change and examine new ideas to extend opening hours and the availability of library services, but the proposed changes do not call for a reduction in services.