Small grant given to Laois libraries for disability and age supports

Laois Library Service will get just a sliver of €550,000 announced for Irish libraries from the Dormant Funds account.

The county which has eight libraries will get the equivalent of €1,640 per library, a total grant of €13,141.

It means just 2.4% of the national funding will come to Laois.

It will be used to buy special furniture, including seven height adjustable tables and 11 ergonomic chairs to support people with mobility needs and physical disabilities.

Eight Braille Labellers and eight C-Pens will also be bought, to support people with visual impairments, and two hearing loops for people with hearing impairments.

The equipment is to assist the age griendly, deaf/hard of hearing, people with mobility needs, physical Disability or visual impairment.

The full cost of the equipment is €14,602, with Laois County Council to contribute 10%, or  €1,460.20 to match the grant funding. 

Two Government ministers jointly announced the nationwide funding on June 24, the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, and Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities, Joe O’Brien TD.

"This will put our libraries at the forefront of reaching out to all members of the community in which they serve – this is a key objective of the new library strategy “The Library is the Place”, which I launched last July at the official opening of the new Portlaoise library," Minister Humphreys said.

The funding, under the Dormant Accounts Action Plan, will assist public libraries in reaching out to people with disabilities and other marginalised groups.

Funding of €400,000 has been approved to support the provision of assistive technologies such as hearing loops, electronic magnifiers and wayfinding tools.  The Governments says it will also help people with disabilities to access library services by providing wheelchair-accessible shelving, height-adjustable desks and seating.

Further funding of €150,000 has been approved to support the promotion of public libraries through the hosting of an Open Day in all libraries nationwide that will enable them to showcase what they offer to the public.