Peter 'Chap' Cleere
Question:348. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if new libraries were delivered in 2025; and if he will provide details of same. [4782/26]
View answerWednesday, 21 January 2026
Questions (348)
Written answers
The provision of library services including 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 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.
Under the Libraries Capital Programme 2023-2027, my Department is investing €22.6m in 11 library infrastructure projects and a further €2.6m in 12 next-generation mobile libraries.
In May 2024, a further investment of circa €28m was allocated under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) to support three regeneration projects that include new library facilities. In 2025, three new libraries were officially opened to the public - Ballyogan Library which was the first facility delivered under the Libraries Capital Programme 2023-2027, as well as Dromahair Library and Kinnegad Library, both of which were funded through the RRDF.