Environment Minister Phil Hogan has approved funding for the renovation and expansion of the Granard library facilities.

€500,000 has been allocated to facilitate the beginning of construction work at the site. The figure is less than half than the anticipated cost of the work, which was estimated to be €1.2m, but it is thought that further funding will be allocated as the work progresses.

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Welcoming the news, Cllr PJ Reilly is quoted as saying: “Several representations have been made, not by just me but by many others. Granard Town Council has put an awful lot of effort into this too.”

Currently it is not known when the project will be opened to tender, with Cllr Reilly saying the “next couple of months” would reveal more. “I am looking at trying to get a sub office of the county council brought in too,” he said.

“This would be of great benefit to people to transact their business instead of them having to go into Longford the whole time.”

(MH)