Noel McCarthy (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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107. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 898 of 25 March 2025, to provide an update on the development of a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26291/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) is a strategic capital investment fund that is key to the delivery of Ireland's rural development policy, Our Rural Future 2021-2025. The RRDF provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects in towns and villages and rural areas across Ireland. Funding is allocated to local authorities and other State-funded bodies, who take the lead role in individual projects.

Cork County Council is the lead partner for the Youghal Public Library project and is responsible for managing the works schedule. It was awarded funding of c. €4.05m under the third Call for Category 1 proposals to the RRDF in 2021. Planned works will see the renovation and extension of derelict buildings and a site on Youghal's North Main Street to provide a new library and revitalised streetscape.

The Council has most recently advised my officials that completion of the phase 1 works, enabling and demolition respectively, are ongoing and that it anticipates these works will be completed imminently along with a handover of the site to the Council by the Contractors.

The Council advises that in parallel, the Council’s Architectural Department has been conducting a high level process to review the design options for the library on the site and is considering all options to achieve the best design outcome at the best financial cost possible.