Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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575. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline the funds which have been made available from his Department for public libraries in each of the past five years; if he will list the libraries that are currently on the waiting list for funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26778/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Under the Local Government Act, 2001, each Local Authority is deemed to be a library authority and it is a matter for each local authority to prioritise its actions in terms of delivering library facilities including premises in its catchment area.

Under Section 78 of the Act, a library authority may take such measures, engage in such activities or do such things in accordance with law, including the incurring of expenditure, for the provision of library services as it considers necessary or desirable. A library authority may, in particular, arrange for the provision of premises and facilities, including mobile facilities, for the library service, as it considers appropriate.

My Department has provided capital funding towards approved refurbishment and renovation, and new library projects carried out by local authorities, subject to availability of resources. In addition, my Department subsidises the rental of approved library facilities in locations where ownership of the premises is not feasible. The funding provided by my Department for 2008 to 2012 inclusive is as follows:

All funding under the current Library Capital Programme is fully committed to existing approved library projects at varying stages of completion.