A new library in Portlaoise, planned to be in operation by 2019, is set to cost almost €5 million.
The startling figure was confirmed by Director of Services Donal Brennan at today’s Laois County Council meeting.
Mr Brennan also revealed that, at present, Laois County Council has been allocated a grant of €1.65 million for the library project.
This means that at present, the Council would have to come up with the additional €3.45 million to fund the project.
Fianna Fail Councillor Catherine Fitzgerald said that she found it very hard to justify spending so much money on a library when the current housing crisis is taken into account.
She said: “Being a Portlaoise based Councillor, of course I’d love to be able to sit here and welcome a new library.
“But after a previous discussion on the housing crisis, it’s very difficult as a public representative to say we are going to spend €5 million on a library.
“I completely support the library. And I don’t want to run down this because it is and would be a brilliant resource.
“But, I as a public representative am finding it very difficult. If we had that money for housing, it would make such a difference.
“I always look at things like a household budget. You buy your groceries, you pay your bills and if you have enough money left for a holiday then so be it.
“But housing is so bad and we are so desperate at the moment that I really couldn’t justify it and I think it is not the right time for us to spend this money like this.
“We can’t afford it at the moment and whatever money we do get, has to go to housing.”
Cllrs Mary Sweeney and Brendan Phelan spoke in favour of the library development but Independent Ben Brennan said he was also against it.
He said: “I do support the idea of a new library in Portlaoise but look at what people we could take off the streets in our own county with €5 million.
“God almighty, we have thousands looking for a room. It was only last week that people were turned away because they had nowhere to go.
“And we’re going to put the guts of €5 million into a library? I think housing should be the priority at the moment.”
Director of Services confirmed that he would go back to the Department and request additional funding and report back to Councillors before proceeding any further.
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