Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The provision of 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 delivery of library services in Blackrock/Mahon is primarily a matter for Cork City Council.

My department has been informed by Cork City Council that a potential site has been identified in principle for a library in Blackrock/Mahon on the grounds of Nagle Community College, on the Avenue De Rennes. I am advised that discussions regarding this site are ongoing between the local authority and Cork Education and Training Board (Cork ETB) and that a Memorandum Of Understanding for the project, which will incorporate a youth services element, will be signed by both parties before the end of March 2024.

I am advised that Cork City Council plan to submit a Stage 1 Application for Approval in Principle for the project to my Department before the end of March 2024. This requirement is to ensure that the project complies with the Public Library Standards and Benchmarks, which is the practice for all new public library projects. Costs for this project are currently unknown, as it is in the early stages of planning, but cost estimates will be contained in the Stage 1 Application when it is submitted.

My Department invited proposals for funding under a new Libraries Capital Programme in April 2023, but Cork City Council did not submit a proposal for Blackrock/Mahon on this occasion as discussions had not been concluded before the submission date.