Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 48: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if it is his intention that the existing national library service for visually impaired people which is run by the National Council for the Blind of Ireland will be recognised and funded appropriately by his Department in order to provide a service equivalent to that provided to other citizens; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22240/10]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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Several library facilities operated by educational bodies, charities and private organisations do not come within the remit of my Department or the local government sector. These would include the Library operated by National Council for the Blind of Ireland, which, I believe, had a funding relationship with the Health Service Executive. Funding provided by my Department for library services takes the form of capital assistance for construction and fit out of new local authority public libraries and substantial refurbishment of existing local authority public libraries which may include facilities for persons with disabilities. Grant aid is provided as a percentage of the overall cost of the project and is dependent on the funding available each year. My Department also allocates funding to libraries in the local government sector, under the National Disability Strategy, to improve access to library facilities and services for people with disabilities.