Funding on the way to renovate old Tuam Library

By SIOBHÃÂN HOLLIMAN FUNDING to carry out refurbishment works at the old Tuam Library is expected to be confirmed by the end of the summer.[private] The OPW recently surveyed the building on Shop Street and assessed that the cost of the renovation works required would be in the region of €300,000. The OPW has been looking at the vacant building as a potential location for the offices and local services of a government department. Labour TD Colm Keaveney is confident that funding for the library will be approved shortly and that a long-term lease will be agreed between the Co Council and the OPW. 'This refurbishment is an essential step in keeping the building in public ownership and not allowing this historical building to fall into the hands of private interests. 'I am in advanced talks with a government department in securing a commercial rent for the building, which will be a great benefit to the Co Council and to the people of Tuam and Galway,' said the Galway East TD. He said the project and services earmarked for the building will increase the footfall on Shop Street and the renovation works should help local tradesmen. 'I will continue to work with the County Management Team on this project and am confident that we will achieve a positive result,' he added. There has been considerable interest in the vacant building on Shop Street since it became vacant after the town library relocated to a purpose-built facility on High Street. Representatives of a number of arts and voluntary groups had offered to pay rent on the Co Council-owned property, but the local authority recently shot down that idea on the grounds that it wouldn't prove commercially viable. The Council has always been against letting the property on a short-term basis and The Herald understands that negotiations with a long-term client are nearing an end. Initially the Co Council had intended to sell the large property to help meet the repayments on a large debt accrued to build the new council offices and library on High Street. However, the property downturn has made any prospect of getting a reasonable sale price on the building unlikely. The building is one of a number in Tuam that were inspected by the OPW recently in an effort to find suitable accommodation for state-related services.[/private]