Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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215. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the amount of funding allocated for library construction in local authority areas since May 2016 and to date in 2017; the local authorities and specific geographical areas that received funding; the amount of funding that was allocated; and the funding available in the first quarter of 2017, in tabular form. [22758/17]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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The provision of premises and facilities in the public library service, including the construction of libraries, is generally a matter for each local authority in accordance with section 78 of the Local Government Act 2001. Local authority investment in library infrastructure is complemented, however, by an exchequer funded library capital programme that supports inter alia new library builds, renovation and refurbishment of existing buildings and mobile libraries.

In January 2016, my Department announced a new Libraries Capital Investment Programme. The programme will invest some €23m in 17 library projects and the My Open Library initiative between 2016 and 2021, with a matching investment of €35m by local authorities. All funding has been allocated under the programme since January 2016 and will be drawn down by the relevant local authorities as projects progress over the period of the programme.

A list of approved projects and indicative allocations is set out in the table, with those projects likely to draw down funding in 2017 highlighted.