Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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62. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department has plans to support a local library for the City West area. [50089/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department funds a Libraries Capital Programme that is investing a total of €29m in 17 projects, as well as the My Open Library service and a Small Scale Capital Works programme, in the period between 2016 and 2022. This programme was developed on the basis of priority proposals submitted by local authorities.

My Department approved funding of €1m under the Libraries Capital Programme for the construction of the new North Clondalkin library in South Dublin which opened in December 2020. The Libraries Capital Programme is currently fully committed. However, funding for new library projects can be considered as additional funds become available.

Local authorities may also submit library development proposals as elements of broader regeneration projects under the Urban Regeneration and Development Funds (URDF) which is administered by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. In the event that South Dublin County Council submits an application for funding under the URDF, they must also submit their application to my Department for technical assessment of the proposed new library to ensure that the Standards and Benchmarks for public libraries are being adhered to. This is the procedure for all new public library projects, including those being funded by URDF.

The provision of the library services, including the provision of library buildings, is primarily a matter for local authorities in their capacity as library authorities under the Local Government Act 2001. Accordingly, the development of a library in the City West area is first and foremost a matter for South Dublin County Council.No application for funding has been received from South Dublin County Council to support the provision of a library for the City West area.