Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 424: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to provide funding to refurbish and extend the town library in Belturbet, County Cavan; his views on whether with a major increase of the population in that town such a restructuring and provision of more books is important; if he will assure this Deputy that it will be priority when he gets an opportunity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42637/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The provision of a public library service in Belturbet is a matter for the library authority concerned, in this instance Cavan County Council. The authority has indicated that the library in Belturbet is its number one priority for funding.

Following detailed consideration of the priority lists submitted by all local authorities, a limited two-year Capital Programme for Public Libraries was announced, amounting to €8.5 million in 2009, which will contribute towards the development and refurbishment of a range of public libraries throughout the country.

Unfortunately, it was not possible to allocate funds to Cavan County Council for the Belturbet project at that time in view of the limited capital funds available, the high level of applications from library authorities across the country and the focus, in 2009, on ensuring deliverability of those projects which were assisted in this programme. The Belturbet library project, along with a number of other applications, will remain under consideration for capital funding over the lifetime of the Programme should additional funding become available.