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

As the Deputy will be aware, the RRDF is a strategic capital investment fund that is key to the delivery of Ireland's rural development policy, Our Rural Future. The Youghal public library project was awarded funding of just over €4 million under the third call for category 1 proposals to the fund in 2021. The project will renovate and extend derelict buildings and a site on Youghal's North Main Street to provide a new library and revitalised streetscape.

Since the funding was approved in 2021, the condition of the building has deteriorated further and some fundamental structural issues relating to internal floors have come to light. Cork County Council is carrying out works to rectify this issue and is providing the funding to complete these preliminary remedial works, which are expected to be completed by the end of the summer. Following the completion of these initial works, the council will tender for the construction contract to deliver the library project.

It is in the nature of large-scale ambitious capital projects that unforeseen issues can sometimes arise that must be rectified before a project can progress. My officials are in ongoing contact with the council to ensure the project progresses as efficiently as possible. The amount of funding drawn down for the project to date is €224,642. Further drawdowns are expected over the remainder of the year with the bulk of the funding to be drawn down in 2025 and 2026. It is estimated that the project will be completed in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Given the benefits this project can deliver to the community in Youghal, I have requested my officials to remain in ongoing contact with Cork County Council to support the delivery of this very important project.

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