€7 million library lying idle from lack of staff

AN extensive new library costing €7 million in taxpayers’ money is lying idle because of the government’s cap on hiring new staff, Fine Gael claimed yesterday.

Despite expectations that the new facilities in Malahide, Co Dublin, would open earlier this year, the Millennium Budget project remains closed after seven years of work, according to Fine Gael’s Dr James Reilly.

Accusing the government of “squandering taxpayers’ cash”, Mr Reilly said the taxpayer was also having to pay for the rented premises currently being used as a library substitute.