Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 134: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the importance of keeping open public libraries. [2975/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Day to day operations, including staffing levels and opening hours, in the public library service are a matter for each local authority in its capacity as a library authority under Section 78 of the Local Government Act 2001.

My Department provides funding towards the capital costs of approved new libraries and the refurbishment of existing libraries along with funding for mobile libraries and delivery vans.

The library service provides very valuable social, educational and cultural services to communities around the country and local authorities continue to make every effort to deliver appropriate services within budgetary constraints.