Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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610. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development his views on the levels of expenditure under the libraries capital programme annually over the 2016 to 2018 period. [3087/19]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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My Department funds a libraries capital programme that will invest some €29 million in 19 projects, and in the My Open Library service, between 2016 and 2022.  The programme has been developed on the basis of priority proposals submitted by local authorities and is fully committed at this stage.

Two major developments have already been completed under the programme with Kevin Street library in Dublin and Athy library in County Kildare opening in 2018.  Moroever, two mobile libraries have been commissioned in Kerry and Wexford; a new schools library van has been funded in Tipperary; and equipment, furniture and fittings have been funded for 20 or so libraries to support the continued roll-out of My Open Library.

I expect local authorities to continue to make good progress in 2019.  To this end, I have secured an increased capital allocation of €6 million for the programme this year.  The allocation reflects increasing activity under the programme with, for example, construction on three major developments advancing significantly or completing this year, namely the libraries in Edgeworthstown (Longford), Ennis (Clare) and North Clondalkin (South Dublin).