Seán Sherlock
Question:177. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the capital envelope required for a library project proposed for Blackrock-Mahon in Cork city. [16926/24]
View answerWednesday, 17 April 2024
Questions (177)
Written answers
The provision of library services, including the provision of library buildings, is primarily a matter for local authorities in their capacity as library authorities under the Local Government Act 2001. Accordingly, the delivery of library services in Blackrock/Mahon is primarily a matter for Cork City Council.
My Department has been informed by Cork City Council that a potential site has been identified in principle for a library in Blackrock/Mahon on the grounds of Nagle Community College, on the Avenue De Rennes. I am advised that the local authority and Cork Education and Training Board (Cork ETB) will sign a Memorandum Of Understanding for the project in early May, and details of this are currently being finalised.
In my reply to Parliamentary Question 11523/24 which was submitted by the Deputy, I advised that Cork City Council were to submit a Stage 1 Application for Approval in Principle for the project to my Department before the end of March. My Department has now been advised by Cork City Council that their Architects Office are currently completing the Stage 1 Application, which will be submitted to my Department in May. Costs for this project are currently unknown, as it is in the early stages of planning, but cost estimates will be contained in the Stage 1 Application when it is submitted.
My Department invited proposals for funding under a new Libraries Capital Programme in April 2023, but Cork City Council did not submit a proposal for Blackrock/Mahon on this occasion as discussions had not been concluded before the submission date.