John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

2692.To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of libraries in County Wicklow, according to location; how long they have been in use; the annual funding allocated, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32524/24]

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

Wicklow County Council currently provides public library services in 13 branches and it also operates a Mobile Library service that serves 32 areas in the county on a fortnightly basis.

The new Public Library Strategy, 'The Library is the Place', was published in July 2023 and it contains a commitment to develop a new Libraries Capital Programme that will ensure that our libraries continue to be welcoming spaces for learning, socialising and relaxing. Wicklow County Council submitted one application for Libraries Capital Programme funding to support the demolition of the current Ballywaltrim Library and the construction of a state of the art two storey building on the same site. My my Department allocated funding of €3m towards this project in April 2024.

I have provided in tabular form details of the library branch locations in Wicklow with information on how long they have been in use. I have also provided in tabular form the amount of funding allocated to Wicklow County Council to support public library services from 2020-2024.

Annual Funding Allocated to Wicklow County Council to Support Public Library Services