Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein)
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196. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if it is a condition of approval for funding for new and refurbished libraries that the relevant local authority must accept that the facility will be an out of hours staffless library. [33439/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In January 2016 my Department announced some €22m as part of a new Libraries Capital Development Programme for the period 2016-2021. Funding was allocated to 16 projects under the programme. The projects range from small refurbishment works to larger scale developments and new - builds. It is intended that projects funded under the programme will operate the ‘My Open Library’ service when they are completed. However, this will depend on a number of factors including the scale of the development, the suitability of the library branch for the service and the outcome of the extended pilot phase due to commence in 22 libraries from January 2017. Ultimately, the matter will be progressed with the relevant local authorities as part of the capital project approval process.