Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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3437. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the research and study areas within local libraries will be open for use to the public as in the case of a library in Dundalk (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39543/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department has policy responsibility for public libraries but the provision of public library services is a matter for each local authority in their capacity as library authorities under the Local Government Act 2001.

The Government’s public health measures state that public libraries are currently only permitted to provide lending and printing services. Access to research and study spaces, reading spaces and PCs is not permitted under the current restrictions.

However, our public library service continues to serve communities and I know that the libraries in Dundalk and Drogheda have extended their opening hours since May, opening from 10am to 8pm from Monday to Thursday and from 10am to 5pm on Friday and Saturday, which will assist with social distancing requirements. They also continue to provide a delivery service to the housebound and vulnerable which is highly valued by their customers.

There is also an excellent online library service in which my Department invested some €400,000 during 2020. This provides access to more than 47,000 eBooks and 35,000 eAudiobooks, 4,000 magazines, 2,400 online newspapers from over 100 countries, more than 500 e-learning courses and 100 online language courses.

The Government continues to follow its plan to review and monitor the control of the virus and follow the prevailing public health advice in support of a safe and gradual reopening, in line with 'Recovery and Resilience: The Path Ahead'. Research and study spaces will be permitted to be accessible to the public when it is deemed safe to do so.