Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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91. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans for the development of the L-shaped site in Belmayne; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26369/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, my Department operates a range of schemes and programmes, which support communities in urban and rural Ireland, details of which can be accessed on my Departments website.

In relation to the location that the Deputy refers to, it should be noted that 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 Belmayne is primarily a matter for Dublin City Council.

I am aware that a large amount of new housing has been developed in the Clongriffin and Belmayne areas over the past 20 years and that local representatives have identified an urgent need for community facilities and amenities in these places. Dublin City Council submitted a stage 1 application for approval in principle to my Department for the development of a library in Belmayne, in 2017, which did not progress. I have not been advised by Dublin City Council of any current plans to develop a library in Belmayne.

While my Department’s Libraries Capital Programme 2023-2027 is fully committed and no applications are being invited from local authorities at this time, I would welcome plans to be progressed by Dublin City Council for a new library in the Belmayne area and would advise the Council to ensure that the facility is designed to comply with the Public Library Standards and Benchmarks.