The government has announced that funding of €650,000 has been approved to provide library supports to communities and individuals at risk of being socially excluded, marginalised or disadvantaged with South Dublin County Council receiving the largest tranche of funding, an amount of €66,933. Speaking of the announcement, Bernie Meenaghan, Senior Executive Librarian with South Dublin Libraries, said, “We are absolutely delighted to be receiving this funding from the government to be used towards a number of projects which will help meet the needs of a diverse range of individuals and communities.”
The €650,000 funding is being provided for through the Dormant Funds Account, which enables unclaimed funds from accounts in credit institutions in Ireland to be used to support the development of persons who are economically or educationally disadvantaged, or those affected by a disability, within the meaning of the Equal Status Act 2000. The aim of the funding is to provide educational, lifelong learning, social inclusion, and community participation assistance through the library system, as well as to facilitate digital literacy and access for disadvantaged communities and to provide literacy supports in tandem with the national Right-to-Read Programme. South Dublin County Council will receive the largest sum of funding from the government of €66,933, followed by Waterford (€48,513) and Cork City (€45,000).
Pic Credit: Ben Ryan
