Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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40. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the support his Department is providing to the public library network. [68345/25]

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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The provision of library services 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 network is a key priority for my Department, and this is reflected in the National Public Library Strategy 2023-2027 ‘The Library is the Place', which was launched in July 2023. The Strategy, which focuses on strengthening public libraries as multi-purpose social and educational spaces, is a five-year plan containing 66 actions to enhance library services.

My Department supports library services through the following programmes:

• The Libraries Capital Programme 2023-2027 is investing €22.6m in 11 state-of-the-art library infrastructure projects and a further €2.6m in 12 next generation mobile library vehicles.
• The Rural Regeneration Development Fund (RRDF) has provided over €100 million to date for projects that include libraries. In May 2024, funding of circa €28m was announced under the RRDF to support three regeneration projects that include new library facilities. A fourth call for Category 2 RRDF was announced in October of this year and includes funding to support the development of a new library.
• My Department is also providing funding of almost €741,900 this year, as a contribution to support local authorities in leasing buildings for the provision of public library services.
• Initiatives such as the My Open Library service, funding for ICT equipment for library users, and targeted annual allocations such as Dormant Accounts Funding from my Department for the Skills for Life programme, further contribute to the enhancement of library services and their accessibility.