'All options will be considered' on libraries

“All options will be considered” the Minister for Housing has said, as the working group exploring whether unpopular plans to amalgamate library services in some regions can be avoided, prepares to complete its work by the end of this month.

Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Simon Coveney, was responding to a question in the Dáil regarding the plans, which could see library service amalgamated in counties Cavan and Monaghan.
Other counties and local authorities affected include Carlow and Kilkenny; Laois and Offaly; Longford and Westmeath; and Sligo, Leitrim and Roscommon.
The new model, first proposed in October 2014 under a policy document 'Managing the Delivery of Effective Library Services’, had sought to put in place strategic planning and implementation arrangements in each of the five affected areas.
It’s not yet known when any report arising from the findings may be made available, but the outcome may be dramatic for those counties where the proposed new model is to be applied.
However, it is not envisaged that the role of the elected members in approving the policies, priorities and budgets for the library service for their authorities, as outlined in legislation, would change, and the new management and delivery structures would support an enhanced service level.
Neither will the local library service branding be impacted in the case of those authorities where new management structures will be introduced.
Having missed a possible deadline of June 2015 for implementation, the aim had been to deliver “more effective and efficient” public libraries with a view to enhancing and sustaining the service in Ireland.
However, faced with strident opposition to the proposals, not least from unions representing staff and county councillors, the model has not been implemented to date.
The Department has since admitted that the model was developed on foot of a risk assessment, with no cost-benefit analysis carried out.
Instead, a working group was established to consider if any alternative approach, which could potentially yield the same results, can be developed.
Led by the Department and including local authority chief executives, the group is now expected to complete its work by the end of his month.
Commenting on the progress last week, Minister Coveney stated that it was still “too early” to comment on detailed implementation arrangements, including the possibility of piloting proposals in certain areas.
“All options will be considered by the working group with a view to securing the delivery of an enhanced quality and range of services and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the library service in the local authority areas concerned,” the Minister said.