Written answers

Tuesday, 12 April 2005

Department of Education and Science

School Libraries

9:00 pm

Photo of Seán ArdaghSeán Ardagh (Dublin South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 883: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the funding avenues open to a disadvantaged school (details supplied) in Dublin 8 to establish a school library which would include a wider community remit. [10337/05]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department provides library facilities of 100 sq.m. in second level schools with an enrolment of 200 to 499 students, while it provides 136 sq.m. of accommodation for a library in schools with more than 500 students. Schools with fewer than 200 pupils are examined individually.

Responsibility for the stocking of school libraries falls to be met by individual school authorities from within normal school budgets. In recent years two grants, amounting to €6.6 million, have been issued to second level schools in the free education scheme to assist them with the development of their library resource materials. Schools were informed that the grants were to be used to improve the range and quality of library books and an information note offering advice on book purchases was issued. The provision of general library services for the community at large, including the school referred to by the Deputy, is a matter for Dublin City Council. My Department understands that the council's library section would be prepared to discuss any proposals in this regard with the school.

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