Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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27. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the steps she is taking to address the growing challenges libraries face in affording e-books and the increasingly restrictive terms applied by publishers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9275/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The provision of library services, including the provision of eBooks, is primarily a matter for local authorities in their capacity as library authorities under the Local Government Act 2001. However, my department has provided funding to support the provision of eBooks and eAudiobooks in public libraries. Funding of €168,000 was provided for this purpose in 2018, and further amounts of €400,000, and €746,650 were provided in 2020 and 2022 respectively in response to the increased demand for eBooks and eAudiobooks arising from the Covid pandemic.

I am aware of the issue regarding the restrictive terms that are being applied by publishers to the licensing of eBooks for both the public libraries and academic libraries.

My department is working in conjunction with the Libraries Development Unit in the LGMA (Local Government Management Agency) and representatives of the Library Association of Ireland, to seek a resolution to this issue. Officials from my department have engaged with representative bodies at a European level to bring the issue to the attention of the European Commission. Meetings have also taken place with officials from the Irish Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) and I understand that the CCPC are currently examining the matter. My Department will continue to engage with all relevant stakeholders.