Delay in FOI garden request

CITY officials in Cork have asked for more time to provide documents relating to Diarmuid Gavin’s controversial Sky Garden, which are being sought under Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation.

They have asked for a maximum of four more weeks to compile the information that is being sought by the Irish Examiner.

A city official said the extension was needed because the request relates to such a number of records that compliance, with the standard four week time period, was not reasonably possible.

The FOI request was made on June 7. It followed controversy about the cost to the taxpayer of the project, and stinging criticism from Mr Gavin about how the city council handled the project in the run up to the Chelsea Flower Show.

The Avatar-inspired garden won a gold medal at the prestigious event.

Fáilte Ireland is covering 83% of the estimated €2.3 million cost of the garden, in the hope that it will become an iconic tourist attraction on Leeside.

Cork City Council’s financial commitment has been capped at €406,000 but city officials say they will bring it in under budget.

The signature pod has been in storage in the city’s Showgrounds for over two weeks. Plans are being drawn up to install it in either in Fitzgerald’s Park, or in a proposed new park on the nearby Mardyke.