Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcomed the major investment of over €25 million in our public library service recently. I know the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, was in Kilkenny to open the €7.2 million Mayfair library in the heart of Kilkenny, which was really welcome. My problem is that an extension for Carlow library and refurbishment of the Presentation building, which was classified as priority level 1 under Carlow County Council's multi-annual capital programme for 2023 to 2025, did not get the funding. The Department issued stage 3 approval for this project in August 2022 for Carlow County Council to proceed to tender with the works, but the tender did not get the funding. It is unacceptable. I know the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, is covering today. I met the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, yesterday. We spoke about it. She will meet me next week. It is not acceptable. The council was told to work away and get stage 3 approval, but then it did not get the funding. It is unfair on the people of Carlow that this new library extension will not happen.

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