Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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Is the Minister of State taking this matter also?

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Yes.

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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Very good.

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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I like to stay when I am here.

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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The Minister of State is welcome.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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I thank the Cathaoirleach's office for selecting this matter which relates to library services in County Sligo. I live in Dublin, but the issue has appeared consistently on my desk in recent weeks. Community representatives from County Sligo and the county's mayor, Councillor Marie Casserly, have raised it with me.

There are three principal libraries and a mobile library service in County Sligo. We all know the benefits of a library service. Anyone living in rural Ireland, in particular, knows what they are. It is not just about books but also the associated services in terms of the arts, culture, heritage and the availability of after-school clubs. Many things are happening in these three amazing libraries. I salute the chief executive of Sligo County Council who has a very difficult job, as do the elected members, in difficult financial circumstances in dealing with management and governance issues that we need not detail but about which we all know. Every local authority must manage its own finances which councillors of all parties and none accept. One of the three libraries mentioned will close for three weeks during the summer because of resourcing issues. The service is operating at half staff capacity. Arriving at a library to find its doors locked because someone is out sick has been known to happen. If it does not have the staff, it cannot open. There are many good reasons for this.

I will not use too much time, as I want to hear the Minister of State's response to this important issue. His response is more important. I might comment subsequently.

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. It is one I have debated several times, as there is some confusion about what lies in store for libraries.

My Department has been in discussions with the Local Government Management Agency, LGMA, and local authorities' chief executives on the introduction of a new library management model as outlined in the report, Managing the Delivery of Effective Library Services. The areas being considered for the new approach include counties Sligo, Leitrim and Roscommon, among others. The proposed model seeks to put in place planning and implementation arrangements that will deliver more effective and efficient public libraries, thus securing the delivery of an enhanced quality and range of services and the long-term sustainability of the library service. Moreover, it has been identified as a means of achieving a greater and more equitable standard of library service across all library authorities, rather than the requirement to drive greater cost efficiency. Accordingly, there will be no closure of libraries in County Sligo or any other local authority area as a result of the proposed model. Nor will there be any reduction in the library services available in these areas consequent on the changes we are trying to introduce. Instead of cutting funding and services, the model aims to secure the strategic capacity and scale of operations required to ensure the long-term sustainability of library services in smaller counties such as Sligo. In this regard, the model focuses on enhancing the services available, while safeguarding the role of local representatives and local authorities which will still be responsible for the policies, priorities and budgets of their respective library services.

Libraries are evolving and becoming a focal point for community engagement. As the Senator mentioned, the library service plays a very important role in community life. In addition to what many still perceive to be the traditional preserve of the library, namely, book lending, the local library now provides educational supports, community meeting facilities, study spaces, cultural supports and supports for businesses in terms of research and innovation. It provides a space and a range of services that communities may not otherwise be able to access. We want to build on this, enhance the services available and ensure library services across all local authorities are in the best position to respond to emerging local needs and priorities. To this end, we will continue to engage with the respective local authorities to identify the optimum solution for the counties concerned. An alternative approach that seeks to deliver the same strategic objectives has been submitted for my Department's consideration. We made it clear that we would be willing to consider alternatives. We will work with the local authorities concerned in the coming weeks to explore how this approach might be implemented to achieve the best possible outcome for all concerned.

It is not a question of cutting front-line services; rather, it is about management and making strategic decisions. We want to enhance front-line services. The importance of a library to a community, particularly in smaller towns and villages, is clear to me. Often, it can help communities that run many events. We want to protect that aspect and I am fully behind it. The closure of libraries in County Sligo is not the result of the changes we are introducing; rather, it is down to the local authority's budgetary decisions. I can investigate the matter if the Senator wants me to do so, but the closure is not due to the changes we have requested to be made at this level.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive report. I agree that there is a need to reform the library service. We both acknowledge the importance of libraries and the services they provide for communities, in particular, rural communities. What I am taking from the Minister of State's response is that there will be no library closures in County Sligo - I am glad that he has confirmed that fact - and no service reductions. We can take these two positives from our deliberations. Will the Minister of State or his Department seek clarification and reassurance from the chief executive of Sligo County Council to the effect that no libraries will be closed for three or four weeks this summer? That is important. What the Minister of State has told the House is good news and we will not be slow in telling the people of County Sligo. Fair play to him for standing by them and making this commitment, for which I thank him. Will he give an undertaking to make contact with the chief executive of the county council to determine whether there has been a misunderstanding or lack of resources or whether anything can be done to ensure no library service will be curtailed during the summer months?

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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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.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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Will the Minister of State contact the chief executive?

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Yes.