City officials defend role as event centre costs soar

City officials have defended their handling of the Cork event centre saga which has been hit by more delays and new fears about soaring costs.

They said their public stewardship of the project earmarked for the former Beamish and Crawford site, poised to receive at least €32m in public funding, has to be robust at all times.

City Hall issued the statement yesterday after it emerged final costings for the proposed 6,000-seat venue, to be included in a request to Government for substantial additional public funding, have not been finalised.