Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 November 2023
3. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development about the need to provide capital funding for new library buildings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50005/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis question is on the need to provide capital funding for new library buildings. Will the Minister make a statement on the matter?
I thank the Deputy for raising this matter.
There are 330 public libraries providing an excellent service throughout the country. On the provision of new libraries, my Department has provided significant capital funding to support local authorities, with funding of €29 million provided under the previous libraries capital programme for the period 2016 to 2022 for 17 projects, of which 12 were new library buildings.
One of the key strategic actions of the new public library strategy, The Library is the Place, is the development of a new libraries capital programme, which will align with the strategy for the period 2023 to 2027. This programme will co-fund investment by local authorities in new library buildings, refurbishments, extensions and building acquisitions. In general, the Department's funding will not exceed €3 million, or 50%, whichever is lower, and only library projects with a total value of more than €500,000 will be considered.
In April 2023, my Department invited all local authorities to submit applications under the new libraries capital programme for the period 2023 to 2027. Applications were received for 33 capital projects, ten of which are for new buildings. My Department is currently reviewing the applications, and those considered eligible in principle for funding have recently been forwarded to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage for technical assessment.
I hope to be in a position to announce successful infrastructure projects before the end of the year.
My Department is also investing significantly in the development of libraries through the rural regeneration and development fund, RRDF. Funding of more than €57 million has been provided to develop and deliver libraries across rural areas.
I am asking this question on behalf of Deputy Ó Laoghaire. He has a particular interest in one in his constituency, which I assume is getting one of the ten new library buildings of the 33 that applied. Libraries are an essential service in our communities. In my constituency of Dublin West, we are blessed to have a magnificent state-of-the-art library. We also have a mobile library that goes around the community. The library is well used. It is packed. In fact, it is so full that is very difficult for students in particular to find somewhere to study. It also has a wonderful room which communities can rent for meetings. I look forward to those libraries being built and I welcome the funding that has come onstream.
Cork City Council submitted an application for the libraries capital programme funding for the extension and refurbishment of the Frank O'Connor Library in Mayfield. This project is a joint development with St. Joseph's Community Centre. It is a priority project for the council. The project is being progressed through my Department's four-stage capital management process. This ensures that the project complies with the public library national standards of benchmarks, which guide the development of the public library service.
There is a wonderful library in Kinsale and I hope to go down to open it shortly. It is a fantastic facility. I agree with the Deputy that there is nothing like a library. It is much more than books now; it is a hub in the community. That is why a considerable amount from the RRDF has been allocated to upgrade old derelict buildings and bring them back into 21st century use. What better use than as a library? It is so much more and so much part of the community. It is an opportunity for communities to come in and meet the library staff. Like the Deputy, I cannot speak highly enough of the library services.
