I want to raise with the Taoiseach the issue of Cork city library. In his last speech in the Dáil, the former Minister, Paschal Donohoe, asked the Government to keep in mind one public service, that is, libraries. I echo and support that call. In Cork, we have fantastic services and staff but we both know the building is not fit for purpose. Four years ago, the Taoiseach announced that €50 million would be spent transforming Grand Parade with a new public library, central plaza and boardwalk. Four years on, our promised new library is nowhere to be seen. There has been no public consultation and there is a real lack of transparency now around that project. Cork was promised a new-build public library on Grand Parade and I want to know whether it will be delivered. Will a new library be built and delivered in our city for the people? Will the Taoiseach personally ensure that the project he announced will be built and delivered for the people of Cork?

I did not just announce it; the Government allocated funding for it. The Deputy was on the council until recently and probably knows more about it than he lets on. It is a council responsibility to present the plan to the Government. Up until quite recently, a plan had not arrived at the Government in respect of this. Apparently, there were issues with sites, property and all the rest of it. Laterally and very lately, the council has put forward ideas, although I am not sure whether this was formally done, as to where it could be located. The Government allocated the funding under the URDF, just as it did for the docklands. A lot of it has been spent on the docklands. There have been issues around the location of the new library, but the Government's commitment is still there. Obviously, it has to be executed by the council on the ground. My understanding from recent meetings with the council is that it is pursuing options in this respect, which may not gain agreement from everybody.