IMPACT’s campaign against proposed library amalgamations throughout the country continues to gather pace, Cork City senior management has written to IMPACT with concerns about the proposed amalgamation of Cork city and county library services. It is understood that Cork County management shares this view.

The proposed amalgamations would reduce the number of library services from 32 to 23. In a series of localised campaigns organised by individual union branches, IMPACT has focused on mobilising stakeholders to lobby and raise awareness of the issue. A number of public representatives and local authority managers are now supporting the campaign.

The local authority management body (LGMA) is currently in discussions with the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government and has said that the proposed amalgamation, as outlined, is not appropriate for a number of reasons.

Peter Nolan, national secretary with IMPACT trade union said “Our 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” he said.

While there has been widespread support for the campaign locally, Peter pointed to a certain lack of interest at national level. He said “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.”

At its AGM this week, the Dun Laoghaire, Rathdown branch of IMPACT passed a motion to support and develop the campaign locally and nationally.