Published: Wednesday, 25th November, 2009 5:00pm

Belturbet library has to wait for new strategic plan

After an angry and animated debate about why a new library has not been delivered to Belturbet, despite various promises and plans over the years, councillors were given a dose of reality by town manager, Kevin Reilly.

He told the meeting that there was no harm in continuing to make the case for the library but there was little point in doing so before the new five-year plan for library services in the county is adopted.

In terms of the new strategic plan, the local authority will have to build into it where the local contribution will come from when embarking on new strategic projects.

He pointed out that there is a requirement on local authorities to prepare a five-year plan for the library services. "Notwithstanding anything that went before, that plan is due for renewal now. The first step in the formulation of that plan will be to have a consultation period with all people interested in the library services in the county."

Mr. Reilly said that process will commence in early 2010 and there will be public consultation at a wide level. "In the absence of a new plan, which would have to be adopted by the Executive members of the Council, the likelihood of any new funding being put forward for any proposal in the short-term is probably very slim. That's the reality of the situation".

In any situation where a library is approved, a local contribution is required from the local authority of around 25% and there is also the issue of staffing. "We have to take cognisance of the fact that we are in a very difficult situation both economically and in terms of our staffing resources," said Mr. Reilly.

"I think what you need to do is to keep putting your case very strongly and use the draft planning process to further the objective of achieving your aspiration for a library in Belturbet," he advised. The Town Manager accepted that the services were poor in the town. "Unfortunately they are poor in a number of other major towns as well and those are the issues we will have to try and address when we go into the planning phase."

Reading from minutes of a town council meeting held on October 27, 2007, Cllr. Peggy Gray said the Director of Services Ger Finn gave an up to date report on proposals for a new library in Belturbet town. He stated that proposals had been put forward to use the courthouse as the main library room and also for a room to be place upstairs in the Town Hall, which would be used as a chamber for council meetings.

"Twenty five months later we are still in limbo and nothing has happened. It is disgraceful and the upstairs in this building is disgraceful," slammed Cllr. Gray.

Paddy Brady said the Town Hall building in the most prominent area of the town was an embarrassment.

Elizabeth McDermott said the courtroom should be turned into a state-of-the-art library facility and the upstairs hall should also be fully upgraded. There is no place in the town for the children to practice for Scór, she said.

Seamus Fitzpatrick said they required €1.5 million from the Library Board to put a proper library facility in place.

The Town Manager Kevin Reilly told Tony Gorby that there were no plans to demolish the Town Hall. "I have never heard it mentioned in any circle and if it had been on the agenda, I would have heard it by now."

Mr Reilly also told Cllr. Seamus Fitzpatrick that there was no point in talking about the local funding aspect at this stage when the project had not been costed.

Cllr. Fitzpatrick said the town was staring into the abyss and they would have to start thinking outside the box to ascertain if there is some type of funding that could be drawn down to give this project renewed impetus.

The chairman John McDonald pointed out that there was a growing population in Belturbet and a new modern library could cater for all of West Cavan, including Ballyconnell. "There is no major library facility from you leave Cavan town right down to the most westerly point in the county. I suggest that Belturbet should be the location that caters for all that area."

He insisted: "I would hope when this new strategic plan for the county is put in place, that Belturbet will be put on top of the pecking order, as far as a new library facility is concerned."

The Town Manager said that in relation to formulating the strategic plan, the intention is to have detailed meetings in all the electoral areas in the county. The chairman John McDonald said the Belturbet meeting should be held in the Town Hall and let the people that matters see at first hand the state of the building.

Paddy Brady wanted to know why Bailieboro got a library before Belturbet when Belturbet was looking for one first.

Mr. Reilly said that at the time the library was probably put in place in Bailieborough because it was the second largest town in the county. He pointed out that Belturbet was not alone in lack of services. For example, Virginia has poor services and it is a growing town. "It is a matter of taking all this into account when formulating the new strategic plan."