Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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3436. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when works will commence at a location (details supplied) under the small scale capital works programme; the timeline for these works; when they are expected to conclude; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39441/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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In September 2020, my Department approved funding of €60,000 for Roscommon County Council for a Small Scale Capital Works Programme project in Ballaghaderreen Library to support an ambitious and transformative programme of works including the relocation of the children's area into its own dedicated space and the creation of a new dedicated space for young adults/teenagers.

As Ballaghaderreen Library is a listed building and the work under the Small Scale Capital Works Programme includes the removal of a wall, I understand that it was necessary for the local authority to obtain a Section 57 Declaration under the Planning and Development Act 2000 prior to commencement of the work. The library authority applied for the Section 57 Declaration on 15 October 2020 and this was granted by Roscommon County Council on 7 December. While some works have been completed on repairing the damaged internal walls in the library, it is now a matter for the local authority to seek tenders for the appointment of contractors for the overall project.

Roscommon County Council subsequently approached my Department in March 2021 with a proposal to install the My Open Libraryservice in Ballaghaderreen Library while it was closed to the public pending the improvement works. My Department recognised this as being a very practical and cost-efficient approach and l was delighted to approve funding of €95,250 last week for the installation of the My Open Libraryservice in Ballaghaderreen. I understand that, subject to the appointment of contractors for the project, it is expected that the works, which will comprise both the improvements under the Small Scale Capital Works Programme and the works necessary for the installation of the My Open Libraryservice, will be completed by the second quarter of 2022.

The My Open Library service provides automated self-service access to all the library facilities for members from 8am-10pm, 365 days a year that is additional to normal staffed hours. Ballaghaderreen Library had been open for 32 hours per week prior to the pandemic and this will increase by over 200% with the introduction of the My Open Libraryservice when it will be accessible 98 hours per week.

In the meantime the mobile library continues to provide a service in the town every second Thursday and the local authority will continue to monitor demand throughout the duration of the works.