SALLYNOGGIN LIBRARY

Issued : Thursday 4 March, 2010
Areas : Sallynoggin, Dun Laoghaire, Dún Laoghaire

Several local residents have asked me to explain the factual position regarding Sallynoggin Library.

 

  1. Late last year, the management of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council proposed the closure of Sallynoggin Library. The reasons given were, firstly, the reduction in the money which the Government provides for the Council, and secondly, the impact of the recruitment embargo in the public service. Under that embargo, staff that retire or leave the service of the Council can not be replaced and this embargo has hit the library service particularly badly.
  2. From the very beginning, The Labour Party opposed the closure of the Sallynoggin Library because we recognise that it provides a valuable service for the local community.
  3. During the discussions last December, on the Council budget for 2010, the Labour Party Councillors secured a commitment from the Council management that the existing Sallynoggin Library would not be closed until an alternative was identified and up and running. In addition, money was included in the Council Budget to underpin this commitment.
  4. Since then the Council Management has come forward with proposals for an alternative to the existing facility. These have included the possible transfer of the library to an extension of the Sallynoggin Community Centre, or to a local school, and the possible establishment of a community based library service, involving voluntary participation by some local people.
  5. There are aspects of these alternatives, which are not satisfactory to The Labour Party and our public representatives are continuing our discussions with the Council Management. In the meantime, we have been told that the existing library will remain open until an alternative is up and running.
  6. We want to assure local people that the Labour Party is continuing to work to keep the library service in Sallynoggin. We are honestly concerned that if a suitable alternative is not agreed, the Library could end up closing due to the staffing embargo, which is outside the Council’s own control.

 

I would be glad to discuss this issue further with you, if you wish. My contact details are below.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Cllr. Stephen Fitzpatrick


Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council
W: www.labour.ie/stephenfitzpatrick/
M: 086 781 4519
T: http://twitter.com/FitzStephen

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