John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1741. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if invitations remain open for local authorities to seek capital funding for libraries under the Libraries Capital Programme 2023-2027. [46334/24]

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

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.

Notwithstanding this, in April 2024, I announced the new Libraries Capital Programme for the period 2023-2027, which will invest €22.6m in 11 state-of-the-art infrastructure projects and a further €2.6m in 12 next generation mobile library vehicles. As a result, the Libraries Capital Programme is now fully committed and, therefore, there is no call open under the programme for local authorities to seek funding at this time.