Ned O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 232: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding the provision of funding to develop a new county library in a town (details supplied) in County Cork. [13526/08]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The provision and improvement of library services in County Cork is a matter for the library authority, Cork County Council.

In September, 2005, Cork County Council submitted an application to my Department for approval in principle for Mitchelstown Library. The Council was advised that as this proposal was not included in the Public Library Capital Expenditure Programme 2005-2007 and that as all available funding under the programme was fully committed, it could not be advanced at that time.

However, it is my intention to initiate a new multi-annual programme covering the period 2008-12. I expect to make an announcement shortly in this regard following the launch of the new policy document, Branching Out — Future Directions. It will be open to Cork County Council to submit this project for consideration for priority funding under that new programme.