Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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66. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she agrees there is a need to provide capital funding for new library buildings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40761/24]

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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I ask about capital funding for new library buildings. I understand approximately €100 million was to be allocated over five years. Unfortunately my colleague, Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire, cannot be here this morning. I am taking the question on his behalf. He has a particular interest in a proposed library in the Mahon area in Cork. Capital funding was announced last year. When will it be provided? In that case it is a larger complex than just a library. It is an area with a large number of people, particularly young families, and there is no library in that district.

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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Our public libraries are at the heart of our communities. They are multipurpose social, cultural and educational spaces for the whole community to enjoy. There are 330 public libraries nationwide, providing an excellent service throughout the country. In July last year, the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, launched the public library strategy, The Library is the Place, which sets out a vision for our public libraries and includes 66 strategic actions to develop and expand our public library services.

The strategy included a commitment to announce a new libraries capital programme and in April of this year, the libraries capital programme 2023-27 was announced. This will invest €22.6 million in 11 state-of-the-art infrastructure projects and €2.6 million in 12 next-generation mobile library vehicles. It will also provide investment for vital IT facilities in our public libraries.

The new programme builds upon an investment of €29 million provided by my Department to local authorities under the previous libraries capital programme 2016-22. The Department also provided funding of €3.1 million in July 2022 to support the provision of the My Open Library service in 17 new branches and an upgrade of the service in 29 existing branches.

My Department is also investing significantly in the development of libraries through the rural regeneration and development fund. In May of this year, the successful projects from the fifth call to the RRDF were announced, including funding of over €28 million for three projects that included a library. To date, funding of over €100 million has been provided under the RRDF to projects that incorporate a library. The libraries capital programme is now fully committed and I look forward to working with local authorities to ensure the full utilisation of the funding allocated.

I have some more information on what is happening in Mahon which I can provide in my follow-up reply.

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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We understand that work is being done as we see it in many places around the country. I understand that 33 smaller projects are happening and the fear is that when they are all funded, there will not be enough left for the larger capital projects that are required. The one in Mahon is an example of that. It is an entire district without any library facility and we need to get one built there. Of course, it will require a large capital investment. It is a service that every community across the State needs. It is not just for younger people but also for older people. A library provides an opportunity in communities everywhere. It is not just somewhere to go and browse and get a book. It also has an education facility. A whole range of community actions happen within a library and it is the hub of many communities. We need to invest in that.

It is a problem in large areas of the State with growing populations and younger children. We also have new communities moving into areas. English language classes, etc., are happening in our libraries and we need to have these facilities put in place with urgency. I would like to get a commitment that there will be funding for new-build large capital projects.

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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I agree with the Deputy's outlining of the broader value of libraries, particularly in areas that have been neglected over time. Parts of Mahon in Cork certainly fit that bill. I am familiar with it. I am advised that Cork City Council did not submit an application through the libraries capital programme 2023-27 for funding for the Blackrock-Mahon project as discussions regarding a potential site had not been concluded before the submission date of June 2023. As discussions on a site for the proposed library have now been concluded and a site has been secured, Cork City Council submitted a stage 1 application to my Department on 4 October. The purpose of the application is to enable an assessment of compliance of the proposal with the library benchmarks and standards, which seek to secure a high standard of infrastructure and service development across the service. It is important to say that this does not represent an actual application for funding to my Department as yet.

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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From the notes I have, I am aware that a site has been identified and the preliminary application has been placed with the Department. I understand that more work remains to be done. We need to see movement with haste on Mahon. At locations around the country library buildings are in poor repair and also need investment. A commitment to that would be a commitment to the communities in rural areas throughout the country which have been left behind. Many urban areas also have poor facilities and need better investment. There are issues with staffing. We need to ensure we have adequate staffing in our library service to provide the kinds of services the people need in our modern social and economic environment.

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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My Department previously advised Cork City Council to consider submitting an application for funding for the Blackrock-Mahon library to the urban regeneration and development fund, which is administered by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Our Department will certainly progress the stage 1 application as swiftly as we can. I encourage Cork City Council to engage in that quickly. At the moment, there is not an allocation for that project, but things can change. It is a four- or five-year window and, while it has been allocated now, things can change and Cork City Council would be wise to have everything lined up in case things change and there is potential for an allocation during that four-year period.

It is important to say, and the Deputy is aware of this as well, that local authorities have primary responsibility with regard to the roll-out of the library service but we are happy to support them whatever way we can in the Department.