Council gives library and local area offices plan thumbs up
By Naoise Coogan
News that south Kilkenny is to benefit from a new library has been warmly welcomed by members of Kilkenny County Council this week.
The local authority has confirmed a €780,000 once-off grant from the Department of the Environment towards the development of a library which will be housed in a major ground floor unit of the new Ferrybank shopping centre.
The members also heard that a local area office is being planned overhead the library.
South Kilkenny councillor Anne Marie Irish has described news of the new library and local government offices for Ferrybank as a lifeline to the area and a sign of the authority’s commitment to the people of the expanding community on the Kilkenny-Waterford border.
She said: “A further €300,000 grant from local government funding from our reserves is expected to be approved for this project which allows us to buy books and other resources. This library, coupled with the new local area offices to be located overhead, is great news for Ferrybank and a welcome boost to the area.
“This investment is a very clear statement of intent that Kilkenny County Council is very serious about providing the best possible services to the people of Ferrybank, the second largest hub in the county.”
Local Labour councillor Tomas Breathnach also welcomed the news saying that it is a much needed facility and will bring life to the area.
“This will be a new link between Ferrybank/South Kilkenny and Kilkenny Local Authorities.
Cllr Fideles Doherty thanked those responsible for bringing the project to fruition and she particularly welcomed the presence of an area office for the area which she said will make the local authority more visible in the area.
Ferrybank-based TD John Paul Phelan said the development will inject life into the Ferrybank shopping centre and spur further tenants to examine the feasibility of taking units there. “Today is a great day for Ferrybank. Business follows other business. It is the council’s intention that the new local area offices will open in May and it would be my hope that the throughput of people will make it a vibrant, attractive hub for new enterprise.
“I’m proud of what has been achieved and I look forward to new life, new enthusiasm being injected into this proud community,” the 33 year-old TD said.
