Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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321. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when a service (details supplied) will reopen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39872/25]

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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The provision of the services referred to by the Deputy is primarily a matter for local authorities, as detailed under the Local Government Act 2001. Accordingly, the operation of the service referred to by the Deputy is a matter for the Council, in the first instance.

As the Deputy may be aware, the relevant local authority previously advised my Department that the proposed refurbishment works to the facility where the service is permanently based, would commence in March 2024 following the appointment of a building contractor, with the service then expected to fully reopen in Q4 of 2024. I have further been advised by the Council that, following some unexpected delays on this project, it now anticipates that the refurbished facility will be reopened to the public on 31st July 2025.

My Department committed to engaging with the Council to ensure that the service continued to be provided for the community, during the refurbishment project. In that regard, I would note that the Council put in place a number of temporary solutions to facilitate the alternative provision of a level of service, throughout the period of refurbishment of the permanent facility.