Minister for the Environment, Deputy Phil Hogan has announced the €1 million investment by his Department and Kilkenny Co Council for Ferrybank.

The investment will provide new library facilities and a new Area Office for Kilkenny Co Council to transact its business in South Kilkenny.

The new facilities will be located in the yet to be opened Ferrybank Shopping Centre and will consist of an area of 6,000 square feet.

“I am delighted to confirm the approval of the Department of Environment of this much needed facility for the people of Ferrybank and South Kilkenny”, said Minister Hogan.

“It is important that Kilkenny Co Council is in a position to provide a one-stop shop for the implementation of its broad range of programmes for all parts of the county.

“The people of Ferrybank have rightly been critical that the local authority may not have always been mindful of the requirement for the 5,000 residents of that area to have good services.  This announcement will remove that perception and build on the major investment programme relating to water and waste water as well as roads infrastructure which have been completed in recent years.

“I am particularly pleased, as a Kilkennyman, to approve this facility for Ferrybank and South Kilkenny.  Hopefully, this will see the beginning of many services for this centre in the months and years ahead.  This decision effectively opens the Ferrybank Shopping Centre”.