Councillors back proposal for light-therapy boxes in local libraries

A PROPOSAL to install light-therapy boxes in public libraries within the Laytown/Bettystown Municipal District received support from councillors at the latest council meeting.

Sinn Fein Cllr Maria White tabled a motion calling on Meath County Council to commit to the purchase and installation of the devices in libraries in the district to support community wellbeing during the darker months of the year.

Light-therapy boxes are commonly used to help people experiencing seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and other forms of low mood linked to reduced daylight during the winter months.

A response from the local authority noted that the installation of light-therapy boxes is not currently included in the library budget for 2026, but stated that if the motion is agreed the library service will explore potential funding opportunities and consult with other councils that already provide the service.

Introducing the motion, Cllr White said the initiative would help communities prepare for the darker winter months and support people who struggle with low mood due to reduced daylight.

“We don’t get enough sunlight during the winter months and that can have a real impact on people’s mental health,” she said.

White said light-therapy boxes are widely used to help people experiencing seasonal affective disorder and other forms of low mood linked to reduced daylight.

She said installing the devices in libraries ahead of winter 2026 would allow people to access the service in a welcoming public space.

“It’s a bit of a no-brainer,” she said. “Anything that can help people during the darker months of the year is worth looking at.”

White added that libraries already serve as important community hubs and could provide a suitable location for people to access the therapy in a safe and accessible environment. She also said she would be prepared to support the initiative through her discretionary fund if required.

Independent Cllr Carol Lennon welcomed the proposal, saying initiatives that could support people’s mental health and wellbeing in the community were worth exploring.

Fianna Fáil Cllr Stephen McKee also supported the motion, saying any measure that could help improve wellbeing in the community was worth examining.

Fine Gael Cllr Sharon Tolan said the library service could explore possible funding streams for the project, including the Healthy Ireland Fund.

“Is it something that the library service could look at in terms of funding? I would have thought that’s a perfect project for something like that,” she said.

Director of Services Fiona Fallon said the matter would need to be considered by the library service, which would have to examine practical issues such as space and how the service would operate in libraries before progressing the proposal.

She said the proposal appeared positive and that if the library service determined it could be delivered, she did not see it being an issue.