An admission by the Taoiseach that a pre-election sod turning on the Cork event centre was a "mistake" has been dismissed by Fianna Fáil who argue that communities are waiting for the facility.

News of the delay came as Tánaiste Simon Coveney expressed his ‘fear’ that frustrations over the ongoing delays would see the Event Centre become a ‘political football’ ahead of May’s local elections.

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State grant insufficient to rebuild fire-gutted venue in Macroom

The Government has fleshed out the next steps for the Project Ireland 2040 Plan and defended its strategy for promoting it.

A multimillion funding deal has been agreed for the stalled, €73m Cork events centre, which could clear the way for building work to finally start later this year.

Design delays on the stalled €53m Cork events centre means it is unlikely to be open in 2018, as predicted at the sod turning in February.