€7 million library lying idle from lack of staff

AN extensive new library costing €7 million in taxpayers’ money is lying idle because of the government’s cap on hiring new staff, Fine Gael claimed yesterday.

Despite expectations that the new facilities in Malahide, Co Dublin, would open earlier this year, the Millennium Budget project remains closed after seven years of work, according to Fine Gael’s Dr James Reilly.

Accusing the government of “squandering taxpayers’ cash”, Mr Reilly said the taxpayer was also having to pay for the rented premises currently being used as a library substitute.

The new library was funded by means of a Department of Environment grant worth €4.6 million and local authority funding of €2.4 million.

However, as the Department of Finance has imposed an embargo on the recruitment of new staff, there is insufficient staff numbers to operate the extended opening hours, according to Fine Gael.

Levels were at 2002 standards when the library was much smaller and opened for shorter hours.

“The building of the new library was badly needed and local people were thrilled when funding was provided for its construction,” said Mr Reilly.

“It is five times the size of the original library and with a large population Dublin North has grown by an incredible 22% according to the recent census a facility of this size is necessary.”

However, under the conditions of construction, the new library must open extended hours so the public can gain access to the library facilities outside normal opening hours.

This, along with the increase in the library’s size, means that additional staff are required, he said.

The new library remains closed despite the stocking of new books, the most up-to-date IT equipment and internet facilities, a reduced library service is being offered in a temporary facility nearby.

Yesterday, Mr Reilly said the incident highlighted again the government’s misuse of taxpayers’ money.

In February, a CT scanner at the Louth County Hospital in Dundalk was the subject of angry exchanges in the Dáil earlier this year when it emerged it had been lying idle for some months in a laundry at the hospital.

Last April, a €48 million health centre in Ballymun which had been lying idle for three years because it was built without Department of Health approval, finally opened.