Complemented by the provision of a fully serviced Branch Library, the offices complete Clare County Council’s objective of providing a range of services that are immediately accessible to members of the public throughout Clare. Since 2000, Area Offices have also been opened in Ennistymon, Kilrush, Shannon and Westbury.
Speaking following today’s official opening, Mayor McCarthy said, “The range and extent of facilities provided in this modern and spacious building give a considerable boost to the local economy and establish the town as an important centre of activity for the East Clare Area.”
Commenting on the provision of a full-time library service, the Mayor explained, “The Branch Library allows the Council to provide a more comprehensive service than ever before. I have no doubt that the excellent facilities, supplemented by longer opening hours, will be much used and appreciated by the people of Scariff and East Clare Area.”
Mr. Alec Fleming, Clare County Manager stated, “Numerous Clare County Council customer surveys have identified the provision of services at a local level as a priority for people throughout the County. Therefore, we are very pleased to have reached our targets in this respect with the opening of the Scariff Area Offices. Among the services now being provided from the Mountshannon Road facility is the administering of Roads and Water Services for the Scariff Electoral Area.”
Mr. Fleming paid tribute to the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government for the funding provided towards the cost of the library facility.
“The opening of this new Branch Library forms part of Clare County Library’s long-standing target of providing a full-time branch library in every town with a population of over 1,000. Based on the 2006 Census records, the branch library will now serve a population of over 6,000 in Scariff and its hinterland”, added Mr. Fleming.
According to Mr. Noel Crowley, Clare County Librarian, “We hope the new library will be central to the life of the local community and will become a cherished facility for the people of East Clare. It replaces the part-time service point, which previously served residents of the Scariff area.”
In addition to a stock of over 19,000 books, the new Scariff library will hold CDs and DVDs, daily newspapers, magazines, foreign language fiction, audio books and large print books. Facilities on offer will include free Internet and e-mail, a community notice board, photocopying, an Online Public Access Catalogue, and a Local Studies Reference and Research section.
Clare County Council, with assistance from the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, has invested considerable funding in the provision of services in Scariff in recent years.
The Local Authority has provided a new fire station in the town centre along with a much-used Civic Amenity Site, while the town will shortly benefit from a new Local Authority Housing development at Fossabeg.
Elsewhere, it is anticipated that a contract for the local Sewerage Scheme will be signed within two weeks. The Scheme will also include some upgrading works on the watermains in the town.
-ENDS-
Notes to Editor:
- Mayor of Clare Cllr. Patricia McCarthy (087-4187132) and Mr Noel Crowley, Clare County Librarian (087-2349801) are available for interview and further comment
- High-resolution images taken during today’s official opening are available on request. Contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy Public Relations on 086-8534900 or media@dunphypr.com
Mark Dunphy
Dunphy Public Relations
Clonboula,
Connolly,
Ennis,
County Clare
IRELAND
www.dunphypr.com
media@dunphypr.com
00353-868534900 (Mobile)
00353-656839692 (Fax)