Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

666. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development her plans to provide a new library at Ballybay, County Monaghan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44515/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The delivery of public library services, including the provision of library premises, is a matter for each local authority in accordance with the Local Government Act 2001. Accordingly, the delivery of library services in Ballybay and the surrounding areas is a matter generally for Monaghan County Council.

My Department funds a Libraries Capital Programme which is currently fully committed but, should Monaghan County Council wish to submit a proposal for a new library in Ballybay, it will be progressed through the Department’s Four Stage Capital Management process and will be considered for support should additional capital funding become available. Alternatively Monaghan County Council could consider apply for funding under my Department's Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF).

In March of this year my Department approved funding of up to €95,250 for the provision of the My Open Libraryservice and associated upgrades to facilities in Ballybay Library. Monaghan County Council subsequently withdrew their application for the funding but it remains available to them should they choose to avail of it in 2021.

My Department has also approved €1m in funding for the construction of a new library in Monaghan Town, of which €696,668 has been paid to date, and more recently a further €100,000 has been approved for the refurbishment of Clones Library under the Libraries Small Scale Capital Works Programme. In addition, earlier this year my Department approved funding of €16,095 for the provision of sensory facilities and equipment in Clones and Carrickmacross Libraries and €16,044 for library support programmes for marginalised, socially excluded and disadvantaged communities across County Monaghan.