Taoiseach ‘still waiting on Cork city library proposal’ three years after funding made available 

Three years after funding was made available for a new Cork city centre library, Government is still waiting on an update from Cork City Council, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said.

In 2021, Mr Martin announced a €400m urban regeneration investment package for Cork, under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF).

The majority of that funding was toward work in the Docklands, including transport and mobility projects, public realm schemes like Marina Park, and infrastructure to help deliver thousands of new apartments.

However, a significant amount was allocated for regeneration of the Grand Parade area, where the revamp of Bishop Lucey Park is currently under way, as well as major public realm upgrades on Tuckey St, South Main St and Crosses Green.

In an interview with The Echo, the Taoiseach said “substantial funding was provided to the council to enable a library proposal, and they had a certain set of proposals, and it’s now with the council.

“It’s in the hands of the city council; we provided the funding, three years ago now.” Mr Martin said he had been briefed by the city council chief executive on ongoing works to produce a proposal for a new city centre library, adding that “there are some issues they are navigating that I can’t get into”.

He added that local authorities, and the State, always had to be cautious when dealing with properties they didn’t own.

“It’s taxpayers’ money you’re working with, and when the council or the State doesn’t own land, that creates its own challenges,” he said.

“So we have to await a proper proposal and submission from the council, it’s very much something that the city council has to decide upon and obviously they will come to Government then, but that decision has yet to be made by the city council.” 

At Monday night’s meeting of Cork City Council, Social Democrats councillor Niamh O’Connor asked for an update on plans for the new library.

Rebecca Loughry, director of services in corporate, community and cultural affairs, said a new city library of scale and substance was a priority for the council.

“Work is ongoing to make this happen,” she said.

A spokesperson for Cork City Council said: “A detailed plan is being developed and will be submitted to the department in due course”.