Local residents in Rush, County Dublin have had their first look at a new €3m library that is currently not being used due to a recruitment embargo that has been imposed on the council.

A project to save the areas 18th-century St Maur's Church from demolition resulted in the creation of a plush new library that is home to 20,000 books and 3,000 audio-visual items.

However, despite being nominated for a world architecture award, the library has remained unstaffed due to the ban, and has been unable to open its doors to the public.

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A spokesperson for Fingal County Council has claimed the authority does have plans put in place to staff the new library through the redevelopment of staff from its existing pool.

The council said this redeployment is being planned and the moment and it "hope(s) to open this wonderful new facility to members of the public as soon as possible".

Last week, frustrated locals were given a behind the scenes look at the building by staff from the council. Despite remaining anxious about the delays, the residents were reportedly impressed by the new facilities and were fulsome in their praise for the completed project.

(NS/BMcc)