Alliance tell Maria Eagle 'we want action not words on better libraries'

9.34.58am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 28th Jul 2006

Alliance Castlereagh Councillor, Judith Cochrane

Alliance Castlereagh Councillor, Judith Cochrane, has rebuked Education Minister, Maria Eagle, for stating that libraries should have easy access and good opening hours, but failing miserably to deliver this type of service in the SEELB area.

Cllr. Cochrane said: "Maria Eagle's comment on libraries have a strong whiff of hypocrisy about them. On one hand, she wants libraries that are easily accessible for as many people as possible, but on the other hand, she is quite content to sit back and let SEELB libraries close or reduce their opening hours, due to a severe lack of funding.

"Alliance has campaigned tirelessly to try and save libraries in the SEELB area. Library services are vital to promote lifelong learning and to provide research, leisure and ICT facilities which many people would not otherwise have access to.

"Maria Eagle spoke about the way libraries should operate, I call on her to act upon her words and provide funding for libraries, so that they can open longer and become more accessible to all.

Judith Cochrane concluded: "I demand that Maria Eagle is true to her word and provides more funding for education and library boards so that library services can meet the standards she herself outlined."

ENDS