Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 265: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the funding his Department provides to the library service, specifically funding to support outreach programmes in isolated and disadvantaged areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10817/08]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The Department provides funding to library authorities in respect of a number of projects including new buildings, fittings and furniture, new book stock and improved ICT facilities, mobile libraries and delivery vans, rental subsidies, training and local authority archives. Funding of almost €18m was awarded in 2007 with almost €19m being provided in 2008. 21 mobile libraries and 18 delivery vans attracting 100% grant aid from the Department have been purchased by library authorities since 1998 allowing them to provide a regular library service in isolated areas and to provide services to nursing homes, schools and other institutions throughout their areas.

In addition the Department has grant aided a number of initiatives and projects aimed at improving access to public library services, including the Taobh Tíre project in Co. Donegal which piloted the provision of library services in 14 service points in isolated rural and urban areas in partnership with the local community. The Department also funded a DVD, Pictureogs, produced for the traveller community. This is a public library initiative by Kildare County Library Services that celebrates Irish Traveller Culture and history through song, story and participatory arts.

Specific ICT based resources have been introduced to allow for on-line access at home or school to all public library catalogues and to local studies collections and information held in libraries. In addition, the student zone of www.askaboutireland.ie is designed to support schools' curricula by providing highly interactive material which can be accessed from any location.

Public libraries continue to play a major role in promoting and enabling access to libraries by all members of the community regardless of age, background or nationality in respect of cultural, socially inclusive, leisure and lifelong learning activities. These services will continue to be developed further in the coming years.