Decision on next steps for Cork Events Centre will come to Cabinet in two weeks, says Tánaiste

Tánaiste Micheál Martin said the centre is 'of significant importance to the city' but said the 2016 sod-turning was a mistake. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

A decision on the next steps in the Cork Events Centre saga will come to Cabinet in the next two weeks, the Tánaiste has confirmed.

The long-delayed project was hit with fresh legal complications linked to the amount of State funding required for the proposed venue. The centre was estimated to cost €50m when the sod was turned in 2016, but the price tag has swelled to double that amount.

With some €57m in State aid already pledged, it is understood an additional €30m to €40m is required.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner in New York, Micheál Martin said he was “very frustrated” and “angry” with how the project had advanced.

“We agreed to put more money into it on the basis that a detailed design brief would be prepared... and then at the end of that detailed design, we did say we would look at inflationary pressures since it’s a substantially higher figure now, and legal issues have arisen now in relation to how we go forward.

"I’m asking government and pressing for this to be done the next week or two, to say to people, we have to deal with those legal challenges... to get the decision on how we proceed next week or two."

Mr Martin said that legal advice has been sought from the Attorney General.

“Given that legal issues that have been raised with us by the department, we’ve consulted with the Attorney General on this, given the scale of funding that’s now required, and so we want to give final consideration in the next week or two, because I’m very frustrated and angry at the fact that it’s dragged on this long.”

The Tánaiste said the centre is “of significant importance to the city” but said the 2016 sod-turning was a mistake. He said projects such as the events centre are difficult as they require public-private partnerships.

“There was a sod turning that shouldn’t have happened at the time, because it was nowhere near, even near starting, never mind finishing.”