Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 19 Jun 2001

Vol. 538 No. 3

Written Answers. - Local Authority Funding.

David Stanton

Ceist:

264 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the need to provide funding to local authorities in order to enable them purchase smaller vehicles to provide a mobile library service to schools in rural areas where the road network makes it difficult and dangerous for the large mobile library vehicles to travel; the local authorities that have made such information available; the plans he has to address the situation and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17930/01]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

My Department has for many years provided funding of up to 100% towards the capital cost of library vehicles. I have recently announced a new tranche of library projects, which will attract grant aid of more than £25 million. The projects to be funded include a substantial number of library vehicles of different sizes and function, which will be eligible for funding of up to 100% of their capital cost.

The development of the public library service, including the making of proposals for capital funding is, in the first instance, a matter for library authorities.