Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

215. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the stage a project (details supplied) is at; when this project will proceed to the next stage; the likely timescale for the award of a contract and construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40987/16]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

216. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the stage a project (details supplied) is at; when this project will proceed to the next stage; the likely timescale for the award of a contract and construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40988/16]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

217. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the stage a project (details supplied) is at; when this project will proceed to the next stage; the likely timescale for the award of a contract and construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40989/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 215 to 217, inclusive, together.

My Department announced a new €22m Libraries Capital Investment Programme for the period 2016-2021 to support the development of priority projects submitted by local authorities. In this regard, the programme includes a priority proposal submitted by Cavan County Council in respect of Virginia library. As Ballyjamesduff and Kingscourt were not submitted as a priority by Cavan County Council, they could not be considered for funding as part of this capital programme.

The development of Virginia Library will be supported by my Department under the Capital Investment Programme. My Department will provide a contribution of €850,000 under the capital programme towards the overall cost of the proposed development, which is estimated at €3.5m. The matching funding will be provided by Cavan County Council, which has responsibility generally for the provision of premises and facilities in the public library service in its capacity as a library authority.

Projects will be funded on a phased basis over the lifetime of the capital programme. Accordingly, while the development of Virginia library may progress at the discretion of Cavan County Council, Department funding for the proposal will be available for drawdown from 2021. The project will also be subject to a four-stage approval process, which will be dictated largely by Cavan County Council’s readiness to proceed through the various stages. Stage one of the approval process, the initial project capital appraisal, has commenced and I expect the outcome of the appraisal will be notified by my Department to Cavan County Council shortly.

The provision of premises and facilities in the public library service is generally a matter for each local authority in its capacity as a library authority.