asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware that the present county library headquarters in Tralee consists of a prefabricated structure and that the staff of 20 are compelled to work under severely cramped conditions; and, if so, the present position of the proposal submitted by Kerry County Council in 1978 to provide a new library building.

Kerry County Council have applied for sanction to a loan of £600,000 from the Local Loans Fund to provide a new library headquarters and branch library at Tralee.

The council's application is being considered having regard in particular to the high cost of the scheme relative to the capital available for library purposes.