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

I thank the Minister of State for coming in. Carlow library has tremendous and ambitious plans, plans that are hugely curtailed because of funding. Carlow library is housed in Carlow's old Presentation school building. The regeneration project which is in the capital four stage approved process received stage three approval in August 2022, having met and adequately responded to all the Department of Rural and Community Development's queries and recommendations. The project is now shovel-ready and stage four of the approval process is construction and subject to funding. The project is ready to go to tender. As usual, the reason I am raising this matter is to find out where we are at with that funding. My understanding is that there has been a commitment that they will receive the funding.

The Presentation school building houses the main branch library, county archives and the county museum, Carlow tourist office, the county heritage services and, when finished, will also host the county council's arts service. The building is in every sense a cultural and learning hub for the community. The Presentation school buildings are at the centre of the public realm in Carlow town and represents the main linkage from Tullow Street to the cultural quarter, which includes Carlow Cathedral, Carlow College and VISUAL. It is in all senses at the heart of the county capital.

With two third level institutions, including the new South East Technological University, of which we are very proud, we are delighted to say that we now have thousands of students coming to Carlow. A quality public library with adequate study facilities, technological infrastructure and space to house the library collections is essential.

To meet the requirements of the upcoming new national library strategy, Carlow will require a state-of-the-art facility to adequately deliver on its recommendations. The case is that the existing library footprint is no longer adequate for the population it services. It is way too small. The project's overall size of the new library and archive services is about 1,000 m2. It is not really accessible. The most recent quantity surveyor's report costed the project at €12.1 million with €1.7 billion allocated to protect the existing building. I urge the Minister of State to consider these points and support Carlow's bid for a new extension to the library building. What is the status of this project with the Department of Rural and Community Development?

I know many libraries have been built around the country. I understand that one is nearly ready to open and the nearest neighbouring town, Portlaoise. It has made considerable progress. We in Carlow are ready to go. Because Carlow is now honoured to be a university town, we need the library. We need new facilities because we need to ensure that we look after the people who want to use it. At the moment it is way too small is not really suitable for our needs.

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