1741. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if invitations remain open for local authorities to seek capital funding for libraries under the Libraries Capital Programme 2023-2027. [46334/24]

The provision of library services, including the provision of library buildings, is primarily a matter for local authorities, in their capacity as library authorities, under the Local Government Act 2001.

Notwithstanding this, in April 2024, I announced the new Libraries Capital Programme for the period 2023-2027, which will invest €22.6m in 11 state-of-the-art infrastructure projects and a further €2.6m in 12 next generation mobile library vehicles. As a result, the Libraries Capital Programme is now fully committed and, therefore, there is no call open under the programme for local authorities to seek funding at this time.