Cork event centre developers set to meet councillors
It emerged last night that funding contracts for the stalled 6,000-seat venue have yet to be signed, and that the developers yesterday sought an extension to the scheme’s five-year planning permission window, fuelling fears that construction could be a long way off.
The revelations came as councillors expressed concerns construction still hasn’t started four months after Enda Kenny turned the sod on the project just days before the general election.
Last February, Mr Kenny hailed the investment of up to €20m of public money — €12m from government and €8m from Cork City Council — amid promises that work would start within weeks.
But apart from some minor demolition, there is no sign of construction work starting yet.
Cllrs Mick Finn and Terry Shannon quizzed city officials about the project last night, and said public confidence in the project is fading.
Head of planning, Pat Ledwidge, who was involved in the funding negotiations with developers BAM and Live Nation, said the developers are engaged in detailed design of the facility to ensure it meets the exacting criteria for modern event centres. “The project is going ahead, although more slowly that Cork City Council would like,” he said.
He said he will invite the developers to brief councillors, in private, over the coming weeks.
However, he said funding contracts between the city council and the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, have not been signed.
He also said that a time-frame for completion has not been agreed, and that 2018 is the targeted completion date.
Speaking afterwards, Mr Shannon said he was concerned at the lack of an agreed timeline, and that the scheme may be developed piecemeal. “I welcome the meeting with the developers. We need some very open discussions with them,” he said.
“This is a very important project for the city. It need to go ahead fast.”
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