COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

MOTION NO. 5

MOTION: Councillor E. Higgins

That the Manager presents a report on the potential demand for a permanent library in Palmerston and if such a need exists to report on proposals to provide this service for the local community.

REPORT:

The provision of public library services across Irish local authorities is informed by a set of national criteria and guidelines and is monitored on behalf of the Department of the Environment by the Library Council of Ireland. The provision of a library/digital hub at Palmerston is an action contained in the current Library Development Plan 2007-2011.

The level of library service activity on the ground in Palmerston has grown over the past two years. The public library in the grounds of Stewart’s Hospital is resourced by South Dublin Libraries and operates from Monday to Friday each week.  In addition the mobile library service visits Kennelsfort Road, Woodfarm Drive and The Old Lucan Road. The mobile library service also stops at St Lorcan’s BNS and a range of pre-school facilities across the Palmerston area. The Children’s Services Team also works closely with St Bridget’s NS and Palmerston Community School. Three community libraries at Clondalkin (5 KM), Lucan (6 Km) and Ballyfermot (3KM) also serve the Palmerston area.

Recent analysis of the usage of library services across Palmerston indicates no increase in usage of the services at the Stewart’s Branch Library over the past three years despite an upgrade of broadband lines, new public ICT services, visits to the branch book club by a range of high profile authors and a concerted marketing campaign. Analysis of membership data for the branch library indicates that a large percentage of users are staff of the hospital living outside the Palmerston area.  Analysis of the usage of the mobile library services also indicates a lower than normal uptake in comparison with other communities - usage at nearby mobile library stops in North Clondalkin are three times higher than in Palmerston.

Population Trends from the 2011 Census have recently being published and the areas of Palmerston Village and Palmerston West indicate a fall in population since 2006 while areas such as Clondalkin – Cappaghmore show a 35% rise in population over the same period.

The current national capital programme for public library buildings is reliant on exchequer funding and in serious jeopardy. The DOECLG has withdrawn its fifty per cent funding of library leases and all lease costs must now be borne in full by each local authority. The embargo on recruitment is an additional factor which must be considered when planning new library projects. Staffing levels across the service continue to fall and we are unable to recruit replacements. Over the past five years the national development programme for libraries has seen a move away from small library hubs to large regional libraries in order to deliver a wider range of services to citizens and greater economies of scale.  All of these factors -  lack of demand, population levels falling, reduced capital funding from central government, restricted local authority budgets and the public service embargo on recruitment, combine to indicate that an application for the delivery of a library in Palmerston would not meet basic funding criteria at this time.

The library service is always open to investigate opportunities for the provision of library services.  Innovative new methods for delivering service will be explored over the next challenging years.  However all discussions are subject to the availability of finance and other resources and to national policy on library service development.