Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)
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1951. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will outline the current and forthcoming streams of funding for new library buildings for the coming years. [11172/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The provision of library services including new library buildings is primarily a matter for Local Authorities in their capacity as library authorities under the Local Government Act 2001. Notwithstanding this, investing in our public library services is a key priority for me, as Minister with responsibility for the development of library policy. This is reflected in the National Public Library Strategy 2023-2027 'The Library is the Place', which was launched by my predecessor in July 2023.

The National Public Library Strategy 2023-2027 included a commitment to announce a new Libraries Capital Programme, and in April of 2024, the Libraries Capital Programme 2023-2027 was announced. This Programme will invest €22.6 million in 11 state-of-the-art library buildings projects over the period 2023-2027.

My Department is also investing significantly in the development of libraries, through the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. In May 2024, Category 1 Rural Regeneration Development Funding of €164m was announced, to support 30 regeneration projects in our rural towns and villages. This funding included approval of over €28m for the provision of three new library facilities in Ballyhaunis, Kingscourt and Edenderry. An amount of €100.8m of Rural Regeneration Development Funding has been approved, to date, for the development and delivery of projects that include library facilities across rural Ireland.

In October 2024, my Department invited calls for proposals under Category 2 Rural Regeneration Development Funding, to enable the development of project proposals suitable for future calls for Category 1 proposals. This call closed last Friday 14 March, and may include library proposals.