€12m commitment to Cork’s event centre

The Government has an “absolute commitment” to providing €12m in funding towards Cork’s new event centre, a spokesperson for Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney said yesterday.

Sat, 14 Mar, 2015 - 00:00

Joe Leogue

The confirmation of the funding comes a week after Arts Minister Heather Humphreys appeared to claim the grant towards the centre was €10m.

Ms Humphreys was replying to Fianna Fáil Cork South Central TD Michael McGrath, who had asked for the total amount of national funding allocated to the project.

Last December the Government had announced its intention to increase its support for the centre to €12m.

Responding to queries arising from Ms Humphreys’ reply, a spokesperson for Simon Coveney said Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin has given an “absolute commitment” for €12m in Government funding.

A statement from the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht said that €10m was originally approved as part of the stimulus package announced from proceeds of the National Lottery licence transaction.

“€1m is expected to be drawn down from the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht’s budget in 2015 for the Cork Events Centre,” the statement read.

“The Department remains in contact with the Department of Public Expenditure in relation to funding for the project and other issues relating to project delivery.”