Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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92. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the plans his Department has to reinstate the library council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36473/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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A rigorous appraisal of the State agencies under the aegis of my Department was carried out as part of the reform of State agencies under the Public Service Reform Plan 2011-2013. On foot of the appraisal, the number of agencies was reduced. This rationalisation included the dissolution of the Library Council and the transfer of its functions and staff to the new Library Development Unit in the Local Government Management Agency.

The establishment of the Libraries Development Unit has streamlined service delivery and provided a more coherent and integrated approach the development of public library services. The unit has overseen the development and implementation of a successful national Libraries strategy, Opportunities for All, as well as the development and roll-out of an improved range of services across the public library network.

Accordingly, my Department has no plans to reinstate the Library Council.