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Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has today on ‘Ireland Reads Day’, officially opened Ireland’s newest Library in Edgeworthstown.
Ireland Reads is a campaign to get the whole country reading during February and in the lead up to ‘Ireland Reads Day’, February 25th.
The Minister, who has responsibility for public libraries, was joined by county librarian Mary Carleton Reynolds for the official ministerial opening of the €4.5 million facility.
The new Library received funding from the Department of Rural and Community Development under the Libraries Capital Programme.
The Department’s Rural Regeneration and Development Fund also provided €1.2 million for a new car park and public realm works around the library.
Speaking at the library opening in Edgeworthstown, Minister Humphreys said:
“As Minister with responsibility for the Public Library Service, I am delighted to be here today to officially open this fabulous new library. It is a building that realises the potential of a modern, evolving library service and offers lifelong learning opportunities - supporting literacy, and provides access to a wide range of online resources and modern technology. It is timely too that I am here on Ireland Reads Day which is an important date in the calendar for our public libraries. This is a fantastic campaign which is led by libraries in partnership with booksellers, publishers, authors. I am delighted to support this campaign for the second consecutive year. This new library is the result of community development at its best, and it is the perfect example of what can be achieved when the community, local authority and government works together for the benefit of our communities. This is what puts the heart and soul into rural Ireland.
The Minister also opened a series of new rural development projects in the county as part of a nationwide tour to promote Our Rural Future.
Our Rural Future is the Government’s new rural development strategy, which aims to revitalise towns and villages, promote remote working, and ensure balanced regional development.
The Minister travelled to Ballinalee for the official opening of the Forest Walk. She then went on to Aughnacliffe to open the River Walk and on to Dromard for the official opening of Slí na Sláinte walkway at Moyne Community School.
The Minister’s visit concluded in Dromard where she then opened a new walkway and unveiled improvements to a community centre.
Speaking about visit to Longford, Minister Humphreys said:
“All of the projects I have opened today are exactly the kind of projects that I want to see receive funding from my Department. They provide fantastic facilities and help to make our communities more sustainable. They are helping to realise the vision outlined in Our Rural Future, the Government’s new five-year strategy for rural Ireland, which is for a thriving rural Ireland full of people, places and possibilities.”
Please find full details of the investments and projects launched as part of the Minister’s engagements in Longford.
Our Rural Future
Our Rural Future is the whole-of-government policy for rural Ireland for the period 2021-2025. It represents a new milestone in the approach to rural development policy for Ireland and adopts a more strategic, ambitious and holistic approach to investing in and maximising opportunities for rural areas.
LEADER
LEADER is part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme that is co-funded by the EU, which operates a locally-led, bottom-up, approach to meeting the needs of local communities and businesses. The programme supports private enterprises and community groups in rural areas. LEADER forms part of Ireland’s multi-annual Rural Development Programme which is co-financed by the EU and is part of the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP).
Libraries Capital Programme
The Libraries Capital Programme will invest some €29 million in 17 projects, the My Open Library service and a Small Scale Capital Works programme between 2016 and 2022. To date, these nine projects on the programme have been completed:
There are currently three other projects onsite – Ennis Library, Portlaoise Library and the Monaghan PEACE Campus and the remainder are at design stage.
The My Open Library initiative provides self-service access to libraries that is additional to normal staffed hours. Library members can access a My Open Library from 8am to 10pm, 365 days a year. The My Open Library service was available in 15 libraries prior to COVID-19 restrictions being introduced and will be available in a further 10 branches at least when restrictions are lifted.
In September 2020, the Department of Rural and Community Development announced funding of €3m to support a Small Scale Capital Works Programme in public libraries that will help upgrade and adapt library facilities. The Department funding is being matched by local authorities to the value of c. €1.1m giving a total investment of almost €4.1m. The Small Scale Capital Works programme will complement the existing Libraries Capital Programme. Each Library Authority (30) was approved funding of €100,000, which enabled local authorities to conduct maintenance on 115 library branches nationwide with projects including roof renovations, replacement of doors and windows and installation of new flooring.
Library services
Public libraries are currently providing full services in all branches, with the exception of the My Open Library service. Library branches which provided the My Open Library service prior to 2020 can recommence the service from the week beginning March 7th where this is possible. For authorities which are undertaking further technical installation works and testing, planning a period of training or opening the My Open Library service in a branch for the first time, it is proposed that the service can begin following full implementation of the new LMS, starting in the week beginning April 4th. The My Open Library service will be available in 34 branches once all of the above branches commence providing the service.
Ireland Reads
Ireland Reads is a campaign to get the whole country reading during February and in the lead up to Ireland Reads Day, February 25th.
The campaign is led by libraries in partnership with booksellers, publishers, authors and others who are involved in helping people to discover the joy of reading and all the benefits it can have for wellbeing.
Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme
The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding for the development of new outdoor recreational infrastructure. It also provides support for the necessary repair, maintenance, enhancement or promotion of existing outdoor recreational infrastructure in rural areas across Ireland. ORIS provides funding for the development of new and existing outdoor recreational infrastructure in rural areas. It funds trails, cycleways, blueways, bridleways, outdoor amenities located near rivers, lakes and beaches.
Rural Regeneration and Development Fund
The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund is a commitment of €1 billion by government to be invested in rural Ireland over the period 2019 to 2027.
In total the Fund has now provided over €278 million for 191 projects across the country worth a total of €376 million.
The Town & Village Renewal Scheme
The Town & Village Renewal Scheme provides funding for projects that make our towns and villages more attractive and sustainable. Since the launch of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme in 2016, almost €93 million has been allocated to more than 1,300 projects across Ireland. The Scheme has supported settlements the length and breadth of the country.