Council drops proposal to exclude under-16s from Galway’s libraries

TEENAGERS will not be banned from the city’s three libraries after a proposal to only allow under-16s access with a parent or guardian got the thumbs down.

The age restriction was removed following strong opposition from elected representatives, Galway County Council — which operates the libraries in the city centre, Westside and Ballybane — has confirmed.

The ban, which would also have been enforced at 26 other libraries across the county — was originally proposed under the Draft Customer Services Action Plan following a risk assessment on child safeguarding.

“We have taken on board comments from members and made the change,” officials told a meeting of Galway County Council.

“We have revisited the age limitation for children to attend library services on their own. A review has been undertaken and that element has been removed. The responsibility for supervision is a matter for parents and guardians.”

The draft document stated that children under 16 should not be left unsupervised in council buildings.

While the wording applied across all council services, councillors cautioned that it would, in practice, amount to a ban on unaccompanied under-16s attending libraries.

Cllr Karey McHugh Farag (Ind) said the move to drop the age-limit proposal is “very welcome” having led the charge against the ban as having a disproportionate impact on children and teenagers.

Independent Ireland Cllr Shaun Cunniffe confirmed he was “delighted this has worked out” while Cathaoirleach David Collins (FG) said it was “a good change” and congratulated all involved.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.