This article is from page 14 of the 2011-12-13 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 14 JPG
PLANS to develop a new library in Ennis will be put on hold until after 2014, a meeting of Clare County Council has heard.
The council has been told that funding will not be approved until the preparation of a new library development programme.
In March, the council sought expressions of interest for the provision of a new library building. Two preferred sites emerged from the process.
Bernadette Kinsella, Director of Services Housing, Social and Cultural, told yesterday’s meeting of Clare County Council that the authority had not been contacted by the developers seeking to build a five-hectare retail park on the Clare Road about the offer of a new library building.
Michael Lynch Ltd have stated that they will hand over a library “free of charge” to Ennis Town Council as part of the proposed development.
Ms Kinsella was responding to a question from Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) who, along with fellow Fine Gael councillor Tony Mulqueen, tabled a motion requesting information on plans for a new County Library Headquarters.
In her reply, Ms Kinsella confirmed, “Sixteen expressions of interest were received by the specified date. A preliminary site suitability assessment was then undertaken by an in house panel external to the directorate, and each site was assessed and ranked having regard to the criteria.”
She continued, “From this process, five sites were identified as worthy of further exploration based in order of ranking.
“The owners of these sites were then requested to provide additional information for the purpose of the council undertaking a second stage site suitability assessment.”
She explained, “At the conclusion of this process, two preferred sites emerged.
“The owners of these sites were then invited to preliminary discussions which took place in July.”
During the process, the council engaged in consultations with An Comhairle Leabharlann, representatives of which visited both sites and expressed support for the council’s proposal.
Ms Kinsella explained that, in the course of discussions, the funding application, which must be site specific, would not be considered until a new library development programme is prepared.
“This is unlikely to occur before 2014 at the earliest. In light of this updated funding situation, it was decided to defer further engagement with the owners of the preferred sites protem. They have been advised accordingly.”
Ms Kinsella said the objective to develop a new library and ancillary remains a priority for the council.
“As funding streams are identified or re-opened these sites together with any suitable sites in the ownership of the council, can be reconsidered.”
She added that “necessary infrastructural works” will now be carried out at the De Valera library “to ensure a reasonable standard is maintained in the short term to medium term”.