18 February 2015
By Elaine Murphy
elaine@TheCork.ie
Senior management in Cork City have written to IMPACT with concerns
about the proposed amalgamation of cork city and county library
services. It is understood that Cork County management share the same
view.
The councils are currently in discussions with the Department of
Environment, Community and Local Government and it is their position
that “the amalgamation ‘as outlined’ is not appropriate for a number
of reasons”.
IMPACT trade union has undertaken a campaign in opposition to proposed
library amalgamations throughout the country which would bring the
number of library services from 32 to 23.
Peter Nolan, national secretary with IMPACT trade union said “this
campaign in opposition to library amalgamations continues to gather
momentum as more stakeholders engage with the process.
“IMPACT has been meeting with local representatives in the affected
counties to date and received widespread cross-party support for the
campaign.
“Cork city and county is a unique case because it is the only
amalgamation which is happening within county lines. It is therefore
quite significant that senior management in Cork are concerned.
“There has been unwillingness from the Department of Environment to
get involved in what it deems to be a local issue. However, with a
growing number of calls, from an extensive list of supporters, we at
IMPACT believe that the Department must recognise the local opposition
to their proposals.”