The Minister made his announcement when he addressed the Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee this morning during its scrutiny of the Libraries Bill.
He informed the Committee that, as a result of the extension to the Committee stage of the Bill until February 2008, he had deferred the establishment of the Library Authority to 1 April 2009. The previous target date had been 1 April 2008.
The Minister said: “It will not now be possible to have the legislation in place in time for a 1 April 2008 start. There are practical difficulties with a mid-year start and I have therefore decided to put back the date for the Authority to 1 April 2009. This is a later start than I had intended, but it reflects the new circumstances and a range of views expressed to me.
“I intend that, subject to passage of the legislation, the Library Authority Board will operate in shadow mode from late 2008. This will allow the Authority to prepare for full transfer of powers and ensure full involvement by the Board in the preparation of the Authority’s first corporate plan.”
Notes to Editors:
- The decision for a single library service for all Northern Ireland delivered and managed by a body at regional level, the Library Authority, was originally taken early in 2006. The Executive confirmed this decision and the Libraries Bill was introduced in the Assembly in June this year. The Bill is currently in Committee stage.
- The decision merges five library services currently delivered by the Education and Library Boards. Under current proposals the Education and Skills Authority will take over the other responsibilities of the Education and Library Boards by 1 April 2009.
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