COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, September 09, 2013

QUESTION NO. 20

QUESTION: Councillor E. Tuffy

To ask the Manager to give an update on its programme  for additional libraries in the County ?

REPLY:

Strand 4 of the Library Development Plan 2012-2016 approved by Council in October 2012  addresses library infrastructural development and the delivery of new library buildings into communities where they will have the most significant impact as catalysts for change. Detailed demographic and socio-economic research to ED level was carried out as part of the needs analysis in the preparation of this Library Development Plan. This analysis informed the setting of objectives in relation to library infrastructural development within County to the end of 2016. The priorities as outlined in the Library Development Plan 2012-2016 are:

Ø     Deliver the redesigned Ballyroan Library in spring 2013

Ø     Identify a site and funding source for the provision of a community library in North Clondalkin

Ø     Plan a community library for the Fortunestown Centre in line with the Area Plan

Ø     Secure resources for a Digital Hub at Palmerston

Ø     Explore the potential to build an extension to the rear of Clondalkin Library

Ø     Resource and Develop a mobile library specifically for children

Ø     Plan for the delivery of a regional library in Adamstown

These objectives are predicated on the availability of the necessary resources to deliver them. A public consultation process on a new National Strategy for Irish Libraries which will cover the years 2013 - 2017 has just been launched by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and comments are invited from interested parties on the draft Strategy. The draft public libraries strategy is an initiative of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, the County and City Managers' Association and the Local Government Management Agency. It sets out a plan for the systematic growth and development of public libraries in Ireland for the period 2013 to 2017 in the context of people's changing needs, Government policy and the current and predicted economic, social and cultural environment.

A consultation document , the draft strategy on which comments are sought and templates for comments are available at the following link:

http://www.environ.ie/en/LocalGovernment/PublicLibraries/PublicConsultation/

The closing date for receipt of comments is Friday 11th October 2013.