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

Carlow County Council has applied for €12 million funding for conservation work on a former Presentation Convent building at Tullow Street in Carlow, which is a huge part of our cultural quarter. This is a dynamic design at the rear of the existing library building, which is too small and inadequate for the expanding services since university status was awarded to Carlow. The new build will have an enhanced local studies section, which is so important for schoolchildren and students; an impressive county archives area; a children's library; a new tourism office; and a large light-filled civic space in the centre of the building. This building is extremely important for the people of Carlow and I ask that funding for it be supplied. I know it is at stage 3 planning. I ask the Taoiseach to talk to the Minister to see what can be done.

See this speech in context