Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 September 2026
151. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if any funding is available through her Department to support the continued operation of a children's charity (details supplied), which provides free books to more than 5,000 children across Dublin 24, but which faces significant funding pressures. [69106/26]
View answerTo date, the Department has concentrated on developing a close working relationship with Libraries Ireland to deliver national book gifting initiatives including the Little Library programme and Story Streets.
Each year, Little Library provides a free book bag for every child starting school that includes books on friendship and the transition to school and resources for parents. Every year to date, this has resulted in 20,000 children joining their local library. Also part of Little Library is the Little Book at Bedtime initiative where each local library offers a free bedtime story book to children under 4 years and a chance for the family to join the library giving them access to a lifetime of books. These initiatives are advertised through local early learning and childcare services, primary schools and community organisations.
The Department of Children, Disability and Equality also funds the Story Streets programme which links Family Resource Centres with local libraries to offer families who might be reluctant readers the opportunity to come together and have supported reading for parents and children. This has proved very successful and feedback from families is very positive.
The Department's work with Libraries Ireland has resulted in over 3900 annual events aimed at young families and many of these are targeted at families experiencing disadvantage.
It will not be possible to provide funding for Childhood Development Initiative's Dolly Parton Imagination Library at this time.
