Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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870. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when she will be providing updated guidelines to public libraries in relation to restrictions on computer usage due to Covid-19 in view of schools and colleges returning and students needing to use such facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46010/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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On 31 August, the Government published 'COVID-19: Reframing the Challenge, Continuing Our Recovery and Reconnecting', which is Ireland's plan for the next and final phase of our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. From 20 September, indoor and outdoor group activities, including those in libraries are permitted and this includes access to study spaces and PCs, where this is in line with the updated Health and Safety guidance.

While my Department has policy responsibility for public libraries, 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. I understand that the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) issued updated guidelines for public libraries to each local authority on 24 September 2021 following a meeting of its Health & Safety Operational Committee which reviewed the LGMA's current COVID-19 documentation. The documentation was updated to ensure that it is in line with the revised Work Safely Protocol and Government’s document 'COVID-19: Reframing the Challenge, Continuing Our Recovery and Reconnecting'.