Vol. 513 No. 1
521 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government when finance will be provided for the proposed new library at Castleisland, County Kerry; when the project will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1165/00]
The capital provision for library development was increased from £2.76 million in 1998 to £7.2 million for 1999 and £6.6 million for this year.
In the light of the increased funding available, library authorities were asked by my Department in January 1999 to submit a prioritised list of library projects in order that an expenditure programme could be formulated by the Department. The priority building proposal identified by Kerry library authority was the Tralee library and headquarters, proposals for which are currently under examination in my Department. The proposed new library in Castleisland is included in the list supplied by the library authority but with a lower level of priority.
Last year I approved a multiannual expenditure programme for library development which, together with projects already under construction, involves a commitment of over £25 million in grant-aid in the period 1999-2002. The programme includes the funding of a mobile library and a delivery van for Kerry library authority.
The intention, arising from the Branching Out review of public library policy, is to complete a major redevelopment of our public library infrastructure over an eight year period from 1999 to 2006. I expect that the Castleisland library will be provided under this programme but it is not possible at this stage to be more specific on the timescale.
