Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 22 Mar 1994

Vol. 440 No. 4

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dillon House, Ballaghaderreen (County Roscommon).

Godfrey Timmins

Question:

10 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for the Environment if funding will be provided to Roscommon County Council for the development of a library at the Dillon House, Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an application is with his Department since June 1991; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the development of a library is part of a major development plan by Roscommon County Council to turn this historic house into a library/museum and heritage house open to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

John Browne

Question:

11 Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny) asked the Minister for the Environment if funding will be provided to Roscommon County Council for the development of a library at the Dillon House, Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an application is with his Department since June 1991; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the development of a library is part of a major development plan by Roscommon County Council to turn this historic house into a library/museum and heritage house open to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Charles Flanagan

Question:

12 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment if funding will be provided to Roscommon County Council for the development of a library at the Dillon House, Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an application is with his Department since June 1991; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the development of a library is part of a major development plan by Roscommon County Council to turn this historic house into a library/museum and heritage house open to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

John Connor

Question:

15 Mr. Connor asked the Minister for the Environment if funding will be provided to Roscommon County Council for the development of a library at the Dillon House, Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an application is with his Department since June 1991; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the development of a library is part of a major development plan by Roscommon County Council to turn this historic house into a library/museum and heritage house open to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Michael Lowry

Question:

16 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment if funding will be provided to Roscommon County Council for the development of a library at the Dillon House, Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an application is with his Department since June 1991; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the development of a library is part of a major development plan by Roscommon County Council to turn this historic house into a library/museum and heritage house open to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Ivan Yates

Question:

19 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for the Environment if funding will be provided to Roscommon County Council for the development of a library at the Dillon House, Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an application is with his Department since June 1991; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the development of a library is part of a major development plan by Roscommon County Council to turn this historic house into a library/museum and heritage house open to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Bernard Allen

Question:

21 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment if funding will be provided to Roscommon County Council for the development of a library at the Dillon House, Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an application is with his Department since June 1991; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the development of a library is part of a major development plan by Roscommon County Council to turn this historic house into a library/museum and heritage house open to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Donal Carey

Question:

22 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for the Environment if funding will be provided to Roscommon County Council for the development of a library at the Dillon House, Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an application is with his Department since June 1991; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the development of a library is part of a major development plan by Roscommon County Council to turn this historic house into a library/museum and heritage house open to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Edward Nealon

Question:

23 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for the Environment if funding will be provided to Roscommon County Council for the development of a library at the Dillon House, Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an application is with his Department since June 1991; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the development of a library is part of a major development plan by Roscommon County Council to turn this historic house into a library/museum and heritage house open to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Avril Doyle

Question:

26 Mrs. Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment if funding will be provided to Roscommon County Council for the development of a library at the Dillon House, Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an application is with his Department since June 1991; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the development of a library is part of a major development plan by Roscommon County Council to turn this historic house into a library/museum and heritage house open to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Seymour Crawford

Question:

28 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for the Environment if funding will be provided to Roscommon County Council for the development of a library at the Dillon House, Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an application is with his Department since June 1991; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the development of a library is part of a major development plan by Roscommon County Council to turn this historic house into a library/museum and heritage house open to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Michael Creed

Question:

30 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for the Environment if funding will be provided to Roscommon County Council for the development of a library at the Dillon House, Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an application is with his Department since June 1991; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the development of a library is part of a major development plan by Roscommon County Council to turn this historic house into a library/museum and heritage house open to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Mary Flaherty

Question:

32 Miss Flaherty asked the Minister for the Environment if funding will be provided to Roscommon County Council for the development of a library at the Dillon House, Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an application is with his Department since June 1991; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the development of a library is part of a major development plan by Roscommon County Council to turn this historic house into a library/museum and heritage house open to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Alan M. Dukes

Question:

40 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for the Environment if funding will be provided to Roscommon County Council for the development of a library at the Dillon House, Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an application is with his Department since June 1991; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the development of a library is part of a major development plan by Roscommon County Council to turn this historic house into a library/museum and heritage house open to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Frank Crowley

Question:

41 Mr. Crowley asked the Minister for the Environment if funding will be provided to Roscommon County Council for the development of a library at the Dillon House, Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an application is with his Department since June 1991; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the development of a library is part of a major development plan by Roscommon County Council to turn this historic house into a library/museum and heritage house open to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Paul McGrath

Question:

44 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment if funding will be provided to Roscommon County Council for the development of a library at the Dillon House, Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an application is with his Department since June 1991; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the development of a library is part of a major development plan by Roscommon County Council to turn this historic house into a library/museum and heritage house open to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Andrew Boylan

Question:

46 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for the Environment if funding will be provided to Roscommon County Council for the development of a library at the Dillon House, Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an application is with his Department since June 1991; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the development of a library is part of a major development plan by Roscommon County Council to turn this historic house into a library/museum and heritage house open to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Paul Bradford

Question:

47 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for the Environment if funding will be provided to Roscommon County Council for the development of a library at the Dillon House, Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an application is with his Department since June 1991; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the development of a library is part of a major development plan by Roscommon County Council to turn this historic house into a library/museum and heritage house open to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Dinny McGinley

Question:

49 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for the Environment if funding will be provided to Roscommon County Council for the development of a library at the Dillon House, Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an application is with his Department since June 1991; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the development of a library is part of a major development plan by Roscommon County Council to turn this historic house into a library/museum and heritage house open to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Gay Mitchell

Question:

52 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment if funding will be provided to Roscommon County Council for the development of a library at the Dillon House, Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an application is with his Department since June 1991; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the development of a library is part of a major development plan by Roscommon County Council to turn this historic house into a library/museum and heritage house open to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

64 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for the Environment if funding will be provided to Roscommon County Council for the development of a library at the Dillon House, Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an application is with his Department since June 1991; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the development of a library is part of a major development plan by Roscommon County Council to turn this historic house into a library/museum and heritage house open to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Michael Noonan

Question:

71 Mr. Noonan (Limerick East) asked the Minister for the Environment if funding will be provided to Roscommon County Council for the development of a library at the Dillon House, Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an application is with his Department since June 1991; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the development of a library is part of a major development plan by Roscommon County Council to turn this historic house into a library/museum and heritage house open to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Alan Shatter

Question:

74 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for the Environment if funding will be provided to Roscommon County Council for the development of a library at the Dillon House, Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an application is with his Department since June 1991; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the development of a library is part of a major development plan by Roscommon County Council to turn this historic house into a library/museum and heritage house open to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Brendan McGahon

Question:

75 Mr. McGahon asked the Minister for the Environment if funding will be provided to Roscommon County Council for the development of a library at the Dillon House, Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an application is with his Department since June 1991; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the development of a library is part of a major development plan by Roscommon County Council to turn this historic house into a library/museum and heritage house open to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Liam Burke

Question:

76 Mr. L. Burke asked the Minister for the Environment if funding will be provided to Roscommon County Council for the development of a library at the Dillon House, Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an application is with his Department since June 1991; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the development of a library is part of a major development plan by Roscommon County Council to turn this historic house into a library/museum and heritage house open to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Jim Mitchell

Question:

77 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment if funding will be provided to Roscommon County Council for the development of a library at the Dillon House, Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an application is with his Department since June 1991; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the development of a library is part of a major development plan by Roscommon County Council to turn this historic house into a library/museum and heritage house open to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Jim Higgins

Question:

79 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment if funding will be provided to Roscommon County Council for the development of a library at the Dillon House, Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an application is with his Department since June 1991; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the development of a library is part of a major development plan by Roscommon County Council to turn this historic house into a library/museum and heritage house open to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Paul Connaughton

Question:

80 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for the Environment if funding will be provided to Roscommon County Council for the development of a library at the Dillon House, Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an application is with his Department since June 1991; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the development of a library is part of a major development plan by Roscommon County Council to turn this historic house into a library/museum and heritage house open to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Austin Currie

Question:

81 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for the Environment if funding will be provided to Roscommon County Council for the development of a library at the Dillon House, Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an application is with his Department since June 1991; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the development of a library is part of a major development plan by Roscommon County Council to turn this historic house into a library/museum and heritage house open to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Mr. M. Smith

I propose to take Questions Nos. 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 19, 21, 22, 23, 26, 28, 30, 32, 40, 41, 44, 46, 47, 49, 52, 64, 71, 74, 75, 76, 77, 79, 80 and 81 together.

A revised proposal seeking approval in principle for a new branch library in Ballaghaderreen is being considered in my Department in consultation with An Chomhairle Leabharlanna. The county council will be notified as soon as a decision is made on the matter.

I should say, however, that the demand from local authorities for funding for library projects greatly exceeds the resources available for this purpose. There are, therefore, many deserving proposals which it is not possible to approve at this stage.

Mr. Connor

As the Minister may be aware, this was the house of the founder of the Young Ireland movement, John Blake Dillon, John Dillon MP and the doyen of this House, James Dillon, who was a distinguished Minister for Agriculture and leader of this party. In view of its unique heritage, does the Minister agree that a special case should be made for funding which has been sought by Roscommon County Council to establish a library and to turn it into a heritage house open to the public with other facilities also?

Mr. M. Smith

That proposal deserves consideration. Representations have been made by Roscommon County Council in connection with a number of projects which involve the establishment of a library. Two, if not three, proposals are being considered. I hope to move forward as far as I can within the financial constraints. I am under pressure to provide money for housing, roads and other developments. Libraries form an important part of the education system and have been developed in recent times. As limited resources are available I cannot say at this stage when final approval will issue.

Mr. Connor

I appreciate the Minister is attempting to be helpful but in the Estimates for the current year there is a 17 per cent reduction in the provision for libraries. I take his point that a number of proposals have been made to develop the house but they are complementary and must proceed on the basis that a sum of £300,000 is required from the Department to establish the library. I ask the Minister to regard it as urgent and urge him to ensure that the money is found in the current year. I also seek an assurance that the refusal of a grant in the current year would not be for political reasons.

Mr. M. Smith

If I did not know the Deputy was not serious in making that suggestion I would deal with him much more harshly. There is no question of adopting such a small-minded approach in managing the affairs of my Department. I am interested in heritage development and we will discuss that issue in greater detail some other time.

Mr. Barrett

What about amenity grants?