Simon Coveney defends sod turning on stalled €53m events centre in Cork

A government minister has defended the pre-election sod turning on the stalled €53m Cork event centre despite no building work on site four months on.

Housing Minister Simon Coveney — who played a key role in securing a €20m funding package for the scheme — has also insisted all parties are fully committed to the project and the only thing delaying builders from moving on site is outstanding internal design elements.

His comments come amid mounting concerns that building work on the project — the centrepiece of the €150m regeneration of the former Beamish and Crawford brewery site on South Main St — may not even start before the end of this year, almost two years after the €20m state-aid package was agreed.