The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Science has welcomed the decision by the Minister for Educaton and Skills to lift the moratorium on librarians for schools in the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) programme.
Following a private meeting today, Committee Chairman Paul Gogarty, TD, said: “On behalf of the Committee, I would like to welcome the Minister’s decision to lift the moratorium on DEIS librarians for at least the next school year. Concerns had been expressed about the future of the Junior Certificate Demonstration Library Programme and the Government’s commitment to maintaining the librarian posts intrinsic to the Programme and members of the Committee had prioritised the issue for our next meeting. However, the Minister has responded to the issue by lifting the moratorium for at least the next school year. This is a positive development and one that the Committee fully supports.
“Given the Minister’s decision, the Committee agreed that its meeting with secondary school principals concerning the future of the Junior Certificate Demonstration Library Programme should be cancelled. However, we will continue to assess and monitor the situation and would look forward to a meeting with the school principals in the future to see how the decision affects schools, librarians and students in the future.”
Source: Oireachtas Committees and Press Releases (Thu, 17 Jun 2010)

The Junior Certificate School Programme (JCSP) library initiative was set up in 2001 to provide JCSP students with modern, professionally staffed libraries in their schools. The libraries are designed specifically to meet the needs of JCSP students and the JCSP programme while working within a whole-school approach to literacy.
Elements of the libraries include books and learning materials with appropriate reading ages, the latest IT resources, bright and appealing décor and suitable furniture to facilitate quiet reading time and workshop/project work.
The initial stage of the project saw ten libraries successfully established (see the Room for Reading report, and a further 39 schools will be included in the DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) Action Plan. The number of JCSP libraries (listed below) is now at 30.
For further information on this project contact:
Kathleen Moran (Senior Project Librarian), Curriculum Development Unit, CDVEC, Captain’s Rd., Crumlin, Dublin 12 Tel: 01-4535487 Fax: 01-4020435 or Martina Flynn (Library Development Officer), Curriculum Development Unit, CDVEC, Captain’s Rd., Crumlin, Dublin 12 Tel: 01-4535487 Fax: 01-4020435.
Project Libraries:
Abbey Community College, Wicklow Town. Librarian: Stephen Doherty. Tel: 0404-61327;
Beaufort College, Navan, Co. Meath. Librarian: Eileen McDermott.Tel: 046-9028915;
C.B.S. James’ Street, Basin Lane, Dublin 8. Librarian: Dympna Kiernan: Tel: 01-4547756;
Coláiste Chathail Naofa, Youghal Road, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford. Librarian: Jessica Whelan: Tel: 058-41184;
Colaiste Dhulaigh, Barryscourt Road, Coolock, Dublin 5. Librarian: Ann Hughes: Tel: 01-8481337
Coláiste Eoin, Cappagh Road, Finglas, Dublin 11. Librarian: David Mohan: Tel: 01 – 8341587;
Collinstown Park Community College, Neilstown Road, Clondalkin, Dublin 22. Librarian: Rebecca Ford: Tel: 01- 4572300;
Enniscorthy Vocational School, Milehouse Road, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford. Librarian: Eadaoin Quinn: Tel: 053-9234185;
Galway Community College, Moinin na gCiseach, Wellpark, Galway. Librarian: Mairead Duggan: Tel: 091 – 755212;
Jobstown Community College, Jobstown, Tallaght, Dublin 24. Librarian: Michelle Touhey: Tel: 01-4525788;
Killinarden Community School, Killinarden, Tallaght, Dublin 24. Librarian: Helen McMahon: Tel: 01-4527447;
Kylemore College, Kylemore Road, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10. Librarian: Joseph Peelo: Tel: 01-6265901;
Larkin Community College, Champions Avenue, Cathal Brugha St., Dublin 1. Librarian: Jenny Mangan: Tel: 01 – 8742371;
Marino College, 14-20 Marino Mart, Fairview, Dublin 3. Librarian: Kate O’Flaherty: Tel: 01-8332100;
Mount Carmel Secondary School, Kings Inn Street, Dublin 1. Librarian: Aislinn Conway: Tel: 01-8730958;
Patrician College, Deanstown Ave, Finglas West, Dublin 11. Librarian: Ciaran O’Doherty: Tel: 01-8343067;
Plunket College, Whitehall, Dublin 9. Librarian: Marie Barrett: Tel: 01-8371689;
Pobalscoil Chloich Cheannfhaola An Falcarrach, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal. Librarian: Sarah Ball: Tel: 074 – 9180580;
Presentation Secondary School, Clarence Mangan Road, Warrenmount, Dublin 8. Librarian: Diane Orr: Tel: 01 4547331;
Riversdale Community College, Blanchardstown Road North, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15. Librarian: Orla O’Sullivan: Tel: 01-8201488;
St Aidan’s Community School, Tallaght, Dublin 24. Librarian: Ailish Larkin: Tel: 01-4524677;
St Enda’s Community School, Limerick. Librarian: Jane Bingham Shee: Tel: 061-419222;
St Kevin’s College, Clogher Road, Crumlin, Dublin 1. Librarian: Heather Tennant: Tel: 01-4536397;
St. Kevin’s Community College, Fonthill Road, Clondalkin, Dublin 22. Librarian: Dearbhaill O’Connor: Tel: 01-6266277;
St. Kilian’s Community School, Ballywaltrim, Bray, Co. Wicklow. Librarian: Christopher Stokes: Tel: 01-2863014;
St. Paul’s CBS, North Brunswick St., Dublin 7. Librarian: Annie Brady: Tel: 01-8720781;
St. Paul’s Community College, Brown’s Road, Waterford. Librarian: Hilary Cantwell: Tel: 051 – 355816;
Terence MacSwiney Community College, Hollyhill, Knocknaheeney, Co. Cork. Librarian: Anne Masterson: Tel: 074-9180580;
Trinity Comprehensive School, Ballymun Road, Ballymun, Dublin 9 Librarian: Joseph Kelly: Tel: 01-8428356
Wexford Vocational College, Westgate, Wexford. Librarian: Lee Dickerson: Tel: 053-9122753