Rush Library must not be downgraded – FF

North Dublin Fianna Fáil Senator Darragh O’Brien has raised concerns that the opening hours at Rush Public Library will soon be significantly cut.

Senator O’Brien and Fianna Fáil’s Local Area Representative in Rush Brian Dennehy have written to the County Manager to voice their strong opposition to any attempts to downgrade the award-winning local library.

“A number of people have contacted me about reports that the Council will soon impose restrictions on the opening hours of Rush public library.  This would be completely unacceptable and I am appealing to the County Manager and the Labour-led Fingal County Council to see sense and pull back from this,” said Senator O’Brien.

“Rush has suffered more than its fair share of cuts to local services over the past year.  The Justice Minister Alan Shatter shut down the local garda station, despite strong opposition from the local community, and from myself and other local colleagues.  The local AIB branch has also closed recently.  And there are ongoing threats of cuts to post offices and cuts to primary schools from next year.  Any reduction in the services at the much-loved local library would be a significant blow to community life on top of all of this.”

Fianna Fáil Local Area Representative Brian Dennehy has appealed to Labour and Fine Gael representatives on Fingal County Council to stand up for Rush Library.

He said, “This is an award-winning library located in a beautiful old Church.  It benefited from significant investment under the previous Government and has played an important role in the community over the years.

“Rush is a large suburban area and yet people here feel that they have already suffered a disproportionate level of cuts to community services recently.  To downgrade the library on top of everything else would be deeply unfair.  There is no sitting County Councillor from Rush, and many members of the community feel that this has contributed to the area losing out on community investment.  This is simply not good enough.  Fingal County Council is led by the Labour Party and I am appealing to their members to stand up for Rush and ensure that this library downgrade does not go ahead,” said Mr. Dennehy.