Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 October 2024
109. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the Cork Events Centre proposal; the amount of the funding request that was made and if it was approved [43348/24]
View answerThe Cork Event Centre was included as a Government commitment under the revised National Development Plan in 2021. This underlines the Government’s support for urban regeneration, enhanced amenity and heritage, associated quality of life standards, balanced regional development, and the regeneration and development of Cork City Centre.
It was agreed by Government in the context of Budget 2020 that responsibility for making the grant funding available for the project would transfer from the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to my Department. However, responsibility for the advancement of the project remains, in the first instance, a matter for Cork City Council.
As a flagship project under the National Development Plan, €50m of grant funding for the project was approved by Government in February, 2022 to support an investment of €35 million by the successful consortium; a potential additional €7 million of Government funding was also approved at that time to help cover construction cost inflation arising from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic however it was noted that the final additional costs to the State, related to construction cost inflation, could only be determined when the final detailed design of the project was completed.
Following delays since the project began and further engagement with Cork City Council it is clear the only surefooted way of ensuring that an Events Centre is developed in Cork City is to commence the procurement process and State Aid engagement afresh.
In this regard, on 22 October, the Government reaffirmed its commitment to the Cork Events Centre. It is the Government’s intention to appoint a Project Development Board, led by Cork City Council and with representatives from key stakeholder organisations, to ensure that the most appropriate funding and ownership model is chosen and that those preferred models inform the new procurement process. I expect the new procurement process to be completed within 12 to 18 months.
