Decision due 'very shortly' on additional State funds for Cork event centre

Over the years, the State aid pledged for the venture has increased from €20m to €57m. File picture: Dan Linehan

A decision to approve more State funding for the Cork event centre project is due "soon", the Taoiseach has said.

Simon Harris said he hopes Cabinet will make the decision before the Dáil summer recess on July 15 but the Irish Examiner understands that a decision could be made within two weeks.

The detail emerged in the Dáil on Tuesday when Solidarity TD for Cork North Central, Mick Barry, asked Mr Harris two specific questions on the long-stalled project — when the government is going to make an announcement on the additional funding, and how much more will it cost the State?

The event centre sod was turned weeks before the general election in February 2016. Over the years, the State aid pledged for the venture has increased from €20m to €57m. 

But following the completion of detailed design last summer, it emerged that costs had increased again and additional State funding would be required.

Cork City Council, which is overseeing the project, submitted a detailed report on the final costs to the Department of Local Government before Christmas. It requires assessment by the Department of Public Expenditure before it comes to Cabinet.

In the Dáil on Tuesday, Mr Barry said: "It is now nearly eight-and-a-half years since a clatter of politicians, led by Enda Kenny and Simon Coveney, were photographed turning the sod in the run-up to a general election and still, to this day, not a single brick has been laid.

The event centre sod was turned weeks before the general election in February 2016. File photo: Daragh McSweeney/Provision

“The original plan was for €20m (State-aid). Over the years it has skyrocketed to €57m. To be honest, the State could have built it for less than that and held it in public ownership. Instead, you chose to hand it over to a private operator.

"The new figure will be higher than €57m and I’d like to know what it is. Can you tell us?"

Mr Harris said he would be able to confirm the amount “very shortly” once he receives the final submission on the issue.

"My department, for legacy reasons, has a role in bringing this project forward," he said. "I do intend to bring a memorandum to government on this very shortly."

When quizzed on whether this could happen before the summer recess, he said: "That’s my hope."

But Mr Barry said: “It's not good enough that the Taoiseach wasn't even able to give a firm commitment that the Government would have news before the Dáil summer recess."