S.I. No. 265/1961:

PUBLIC LIBRARIES ACT, 1947 (GRANTS) REGULATIONS, 1961.

PUBLIC LIBRARIES ACT, 1947 (GRANTS) REGULATIONS, 1961.

The Minister for Local Government in exercise of the powers conferred on him by section 16 of the Public Libraries Act, 1947 (No. 40 of 1947) hereby makes the following Regulations:--

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Public Libraries Act, 1947 (Grants) Regulations, 1961.

2. In these Regulations--

" the Council " means An Chomhairle Leabharlanna;

" grant " means a grant under section 16 of the Public Libraries Act, 1947 ;

" the Minister " means the Minister for Local Government.

3.--(1) The financial aid to local authorities for the improvement of their library services for which grants may be paid shall be given in the form of contributions towards the annual loan charges of the local authorities in respect of expenditure incurred in the exercise of their powers under the Public Libraries Acts, 1855 to 1947 in--

(a) the erection, acquisition,reconstruction, alteration, improvement and furnishing of any building;

(b) the purchase of books;

(c) the provision of vehicles for the transport of books;

(d) such other matters as may from time to time be approved by the Minister.

(2) The amount of any grant shall not exceed half the said annual loan charges and payment thereof may be made to the Council in one sum or in instalments as the Minister thinks fit.

4. Before giving financial aid to a local authority for the improvement of its library service, the Council shall--

(a) consider proposals from the local authority for the improvement of the service;

(b) consult with and advise the local authority as to any amendment of such proposals which the Council consider to be necessary or desirable, and

(c) send to the Minister the said proposals of the local authority or a statement thereof and the recommendations of the Council thereon.

5.--(1) The payment of grants to the Council shall be subject to such conditions as may be required by the Minister to be observed by local authorities to whom financial aid for the improvement of their library services is given by the Council.

(2) Where a local authority fail to comply with any of the said conditions the Minister may withhold or terminate payment of or reduce the amount of any grant to the Council in respect of financial aid given to such local authority.

(3) The Council shall notify the Minister of any failure by a local authority to comply with any condition required by the Minister to be observed in relation to the making of a grant to the Council.

GIVEN under the Official Seal of the Minister for Local Government this Twenty-seventh day of November, One Thousand Nine Hundred and Sixty-one.

NEIL T. BLANEY,

Minister for Local Government.

The Minister for Finance hereby consents to the foregoing Regulations.

Dated this 27th day of November, 1961.

SÉAMUS Ó RIAIN,

Minister for Finance.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

These Regulations enable effect to be given to section 16 of the Public Libraries Act, 1947 , which provides for the payment by the Minister for Local Government to An Chomhairle Leabharlanna of grants of such amount as the Minister may think fit to enable An Chomhairle to provide financial assistance to local authorities for the improvement of their library services.