Cork business groups unite to call for action after events centre is delayed yet again

Cork Chamber, Cork Business Association, Irish Hotels Federation, Vintners' Federation of Ireland, and Restaurants Association of Ireland decry 'yet another considerable setback' 

Nearby developments including a major student accommodation block have been completed since the sod was turned on the event centre site but practically nothing has happened since this photo of the hoarding and the adjacent Beamish & Crawford was taken in 2017. File picture: Denis Minihane

Several Cork business and hospitality groups have united to brand the latest delay in developing the Cork event centre as “yet another considerable setback”.

Despite assurances in recent weeks — from Taoiseach Simon Harris, Tánaiste Micheál Martin, former finance minister Michael McGrath, and former tánaiste Simon Coveney — that a decision on extra state aid would be made before the end of July, the Irish Examiner revealed on Wednesday that a cabinet decision on it has been postponed until the autumn.