BREAKING POINT
County is paralysed by cuts as Sligo library shuts causing a public outcry
THE fate of Sligo library could rest with Minister for Local Government Simon Coveney who will face a plea for financial help from County Council Chief Executive Ciaran Hayes at a meeting in Dublin tomorrow ( Wednesday).
The indebted Council’s pleas to former Minister Alan Kelly for a bailout fell on deaf ears as the Council was told it must stick to a strict Financial Plan that has seen savage cuts in services and staff.
Sligo library shut its doors on Saturday and will remain closed-for three weeks as its future is decided. The council says it’s not a matter of cutting costs but a question of staff resources.
Government TD Tony McLoughlin, who arranged Wednesday’s meeting said years of reductions had left the Council in a critical state of paralysis.
“From my dealings with Sligo County Council on a daily basis, I can see that it simply can not take any more cuts or reductions to its staffing numbers, let alone continue to offer its current services at this level. If the Council is expected to reach a cut to staff numbers by 42% as the Financial Plan requires, they may as well close the doors on the majority of its remaining public services which it offers as it simply can not continue in this way.”
Protestors took to the streets of Sligo last Saturday afternoon as anger grows over the closure.
AS anger grows over the closure of the county’s main library, Sligo County Council says a decision will be made shortly whether it remains closed for good.
The Council is blaming its perilous financial position for the situation it is in.
In a statement the Council says the closure of Sligo Central Library from last Saturday was the latest in a series of ‘ rolling closures’ affecting all of the county’s branch libraries and follows earlier closures to Tubbercurry and Ballymote branches arising from a reduction in staff available to the library service.
“The back- drop to the closures is the financial position of the Council and adherence to the Financial Plan as agreed between Sligo County Council and the Department, which requires a reduction in staff numbers of 42%.
“Staff levels are currently down 37% representing 237 employees. Such a serious reduction in staff numbers has inevitable consequences for the range and quality of services delivered by Sligo County Council.
“Although adherence to the terms of the Financial Plan has assisted the Council in reversing a worsening financial position – accumulation of annual revenue deficits of between € 2 and € 3m up to 2013 – it has also impacted on the provision of services across all sectors of the organisation, all of which have endured major cut- backs in recent years.
“Despite the restrictions, the Council has been innovative and creative in dealing with the staff shortages in the library service and with the goodwill and cooperation of staff and the trade unions, has been able to maintain a reasonable level of service albeit with reducing resources in all branches to date.
“It is regrettable that this has not been sustainable and the Council was left with no option but to introduce the series of rolling closures across all branch libraries earlier in the summer.
“At this point, no decision has been taken in relation to the closure of a branch library on a long term basis.
“It is expected that this decision will be made in the short term,” the statement said.
In another statement issued this week, the Council said Sligo Central Library will close for three weeks from Monday.
“The Council’s Corporate Policy Group will be briefed on the issues facing the Library Service on Monday next, following which a further statement will issue.
“It is important to note that the closure of Branch Libraries is not a cost saving measure but is due to a lack of staff resources to deliver the service,” said the statement.
Reacting to the news of a ‘ rolling closure’, Sinn Féin’s Chris MacManus said “years of financial mis- management by the Council’s ruling Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael parties, allied to a draconian economic plan now being foisted on the Council by the Government have led to this dire position of the County’s central library facing on\ off closure and an uncertain future.”
MacManus said: “As a frequent library user, I’m dismayed at news that the central library is facing uncertainty and that the Council Executive will confirm the closure of one branch within the County very soon.
“Libraries are not a luxury, they are a necessity. They provide essential services and benefit all ages, but especially our young people.
“Free internet, assistance with adult literacy, writing clubs and multicultural services are amongst the many amenities available.
“Cuts such as these show a short term thinking, that damages the fabric of the wider County Sligo community in the long term. These cuts need to be reversed.”
The future of Sligo’s libraries has been on a knife edge for the past two years. Last July, County Librarian Donal Tinney told a meeting of the Sligo Municipal District that staffing levels are at such a low level that even one member of staff calling in sick could close one of the county’s libraries.
Mr Tinney said there was minimum staffing at the libraries in Sligo, Tubbercurry and Ballymote. The central library in Sligo had 500 callers a day and it was being run by a core number of staff.
A crowd of around 500 people attended the IMPACT organised protest in Sligo on Saturday afternoon. The crowd was addressed by IMPACT President Pat Fallon along who told them to keep the campaign going. Writer John Kavanagh also spoke as did library users, mother and daughter, Claudia and Sophie Plunkett.