Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 503: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the essential work being completed by the Demonstration Library Project in 30 schools with the highest concentration of disadvantage; if the future of the programme is assured; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25476/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Under the terms of the DEIS Action Plan, a commitment was made to extend the Junior Certificate School Programme (JCSP) Demonstration Library Project to the 50 School Support Programme (SSP) schools with the highest concentrations of disadvantage over the five years to 2010, with extension to further SSP schools to be considered subsequently.

To date, the Project has been extended to 20 of the targeted 50 additional SSP schools, bringing the current number of schools with a Demonstration Library to 30.

The project establishes high quality, fully stocked and equipped modern school libraries and provides each with a professional librarian. A number of studies have noted that the project is effective in addressing the literacy needs of students in schools with the highest concentration of disadvantage in particular it has been noted that reading standards, student concentration and behaviour had improved.

Library staff, like other public servants in the Education Sector, other than teachers and SNAs, are subject to the public sector recruitment moratorium.

Exemptions from the moratorium are, in the context of the public finances, a matter for serious deliberation. However, I am pleased to say, that having regard to the factors discussed above, it has been decided to retain the library staff for the coming school year.