Written Answers. - Library Projects.
Jimmy Deenihan
Question:
205
Mr. Deenihan
asked the
Minister for the Environment and Local Government
when the necessary finance will be provided to enable the proposed new library for Castleisland, County Kerry to go to tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19659/97]
Proposals for a branch library in Castleisland have been received in my Department and are being considered. However, having regard to the high level of demand for funding for library proposals generally, it is not possible to indicate when the Castleisland proposals may be approved for funding.
Paul McGrath
Question:
206
Mr. McGrath
asked the
Minister for the Environment and Local Government
the criteria by which a subsidy is paid to local authorities to provide library buildings; the amount paid to each authority under this heading for each of the past ten years; if he will confirm that an application has been made for subsidy for a new library building already provided in Mullingar, County Westmeath; when this application was submitted; the reason there has been no progress on this application; the amount owing to Westmeath County Council in this regard; when this amount will be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19688/97]
Public library developments receive financial support on the basis of the contribution the development will make to the public library service.
The criteria used to assess this contribution are the impact of the project, the cost of the project, its location, its design, the existing level of library infrastructure, the priority placed on the project by the library authority, the level of service being proposed, and the relationship between the library development and other related services.
A balance is also maintained, at national level, between developments in areas of different population size and between supporting fixed library infrastructure and library vehicles.
Financial support is currently given by either payment of a subsidy on leased premises or by payment of a capital grant for the construction or purchase of library buildings, library equipment or library stock. Some subsidy continues to be paid in respect of loans taken out by library authorities, before 1988, in respect of library developments. Since 1988, most of the support paid by my Department has been as capital grants.
The following table sets out details of subsidy payments made to each library authority since 1988.
As regards Mullingar library, revised proposals for the project were submitted by Westmeath County Council to my Department in January 1990. The council requested financial support through a combination of lease subsidy and capital grant.
In July 1990, while the proposals were being considered by my Department, it was learned that the library was already under construction. The library opened in May 1991.
The library was built without approval from my Department and without undergoing the normal appraisal process applicable to library proects. The project does not, therefore, qualify for financial support in the normal way.
My Department has recently had discussions with Westmeath County Council to investigate if a basis exists for supporting the completed project. The matter is under consideration.
Any decision that may be taken to provide support to Westmeath County Council for Mullingar library will be taken in line with the criteria outlined above and will take account of the council's failure to adhere to normal procedures.
Local Authority
|
1988
|
1989
|
1990
|
1991
|
1992
|
1993
|
1994
|
1995
|
1996
|
1997 (Est.)
|
Cavan County Council
|
1,982
|
5,330
|
3,547
|
3,184
|
481
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
Clare County Council
|
71,283
|
52,486
|
47,708
|
28,285
|
14,891
|
3,175
|
1,888
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
Cork Corporation
|
60,906
|
53,059
|
49,428
|
42,750
|
11,860
|
–
|
23,720
|
8,895
|
14,825
|
11,860
|
Cork County Council
|
55,715
|
49,817
|
23,653
|
37,942
|
12,581
|
12,954
|
11,596
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
Donegal County Council
|
2,759
|
941
|
2,989
|
1,798
|
1,693
|
870
|
916
|
1,757
|
1,195
|
–
|
Dublin Corporation
|
268,446
|
218,716
|
333,255
|
201,878
|
184,981
|
117,374
|
112,575
|
108,100
|
123,104
|
119,388
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown
|
52,872
|
43,138
|
62,968
|
37,136
|
50,507
|
31,216
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
Fingal County Council
|
102,962
|
110,804
|
93,923
|
94,251
|
75,214
|
78,041
|
108,700
|
108,700
|
133,822
|
95,938
|
Galway County Council
|
29,183
|
64,762
|
7,470
|
47,051
|
92,593
|
45,407
|
–
|
58,129
|
–
|
171,035
|
Kerry County Council
|
22,369
|
21,743
|
21,679
|
14,866
|
13,657
|
12,558
|
5,602
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
Kildare County Council
|
–
|
23,596
|
11,078
|
9,927
|
9,077
|
8,272
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
Kilkenny County Council
|
27,435
|
30,982
|
22,534
|
20,663
|
17,922
|
17,752
|
16,254
|
15,741
|
13,557
|
8,151
|
Laois County Council
|
16,954
|
14,600
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
Leitrim County Council
|
5,364
|
4,913
|
6,993
|
23,777
|
7,338
|
1,151
|
6,640
|
3,320
|
3,320
|
3,320
|
Limerick Corporation
|
45,018
|
34,236
|
53,757
|
44,992
|
78,648
|
45,330
|
38,418
|
44,529
|
61,904
|
54,900
|
Longford County Council
|
–
|
15,695
|
10,591
|
10,685
|
8,574
|
2,783
|
1,171
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
Mayo County Council
|
14,405
|
1,322
|
25,386
|
6,280
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
Meath County Council
|
9,691
|
4,846
|
14,536
|
9,691
|
4,739
|
2,730
|
2,730
|
2,730
|
1,365
|
1,788
|
Monaghan County Council
|
8,509
|
3,959
|
11,699
|
7,101
|
6,270
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
Offaly County Council
|
48,058
|
5,337
|
49,678
|
26,531
|
21,029
|
16,159
|
9,765
|
4,624
|
4,343
|
4,141
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sligo County Council
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
17,750
|
South Dublin County Council
|
15,107
|
34,094
|
37,569
|
29,001
|
30,085
|
31,216
|
–
|
12,000
|
12,000
|
14,525
|
Tipperary JLC
|
–
|
44,962
|
8,500
|
1,500
|
8,500
|
8,500
|
8,500
|
8,500
|
8,500
|
8,500
|
Tipperary (NR) County Council
|
44,819
|
–
|
34,753
|
25,902
|
16,364
|
5,933
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
Tipperary (SR) County Council
|
31,696
|
–
|
40,044
|
47,183
|
26,696
|
26,696
|
26,696
|
26,696
|
13,348
|
26,696
|
Waterford County Council
|
36,320
|
16,921
|
50,081
|
29,875
|
16,132
|
4,424
|
–
|
3,801
|
–
|
–
|
Westmeath County Council
|
89,579
|
5,684
|
17,798
|
9,865
|
2,250
|
2,250
|
1,500
|
1,444
|
1,556
|
1,500
|
Wexford County Council
|
–
|
59,054
|
34,939
|
80,470
|
31,002
|
18,791
|
44,038
|
25,347
|
23,713
|
9,038
|
Wicklow County Council
|
7,191
|
5,381
|
5,405
|
4,915
|
4,417
|
8,337
|
3,532
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
Total
|
1,068,623
|
926,378
|
1,081,961
|
897,499
|
747,501
|
501,919
|
424,240
|
434,314
|
416,551
|
548,530
|
Note: All subsidy payments made to Dublin County Council have been apportioned between the three new Dublin authorities.