Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 66: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will make representations to the Department of Finance to adequately increase the allocation for library grants which have only improved slightly in the Estimates 2007. [40200/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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It is a matter for each Local Authority to provide a library service for primary schools in its area. While my Department has no involvement in the actual operation of this service, it does make a grant available to each Local Authority on an annual basis to enable Local Authority Librarians select, purchase, and deliver books to the primary schools in its area. The grant is based on the number of pupils enrolled in primary schools in each Local Authority area.

The provision in respect of the Library Grant was increased substantially in 2005 — from €1.5 million in 2004 to €2.026 million in 2005, an increase of 35%. The grant was increased further to €2.07million in the current year and provision has been made for expenditure of €2.107 million in 2007.

The question of increasing the provision in the future will be considered in the context of available resources and priorities within the education sector.