Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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2083. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the current progress and eventual timeline for the provision of grant support for Carlow library; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37358/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department issued a call for proposals on the 3 April 2023 for Local Authorities to submit projects to be funded under a new Libraries Capital Programme which will run from 2023 to 2027. The closing date for receipt of proposals was 16 June 2023 and an application was received from Carlow County Council for the Carlow Town Library project on 13 June 2023.

Proposals are currently being assessed by my Department and it is expected that successful projects, including the amount of Libraries Capital Programme funding being awarded, will be announced in Q4 2023.

I am also aware that Carlow County Council are currently progressing this project through my Department's Four Stage Capital Management Process. This is standard practice for all library projects to ensure that they are technically assessed and comply with the Public Spending Code and the Capital Works Management Framework. My Department issued Stage 3 approval to Carlow County Council on the 17August 2022 and continues to engage with Carlow County Council on this matter.