Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I must say I had a good day with the Deputy in Carlow. We travelled around and it was lovely to go to that library. It is an old building that needs to be upgraded. As I say, applications are being assessed and I hope to be in a position to make an announcement shortly. I hope Carlow is successful. I have not had sight of what has come through, to be honest, because applications are independently assessed. A lot of things happen in the library and it is bringing new life into the centre of our towns, which is important. As we discussed earlier, shops are leaving. We no longer have the high street shops we used to have because people's habits are changing. The library, however, brings everybody together, particularly when it is in the centre of the town. There is one in Portlaoise and, as the Deputy said, the library in Carlow is in the cultural quarter. I look forward to returning to the town.

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