State seeks bigger stake in Cork event centre as it ups its aid pledge to €90m

Bam and Marina Market in play for the re-tendered centre as FOI reveals the State is looking at a number of ownership options

The State has increased its funding pledge for the beleaguered Cork event centre from €57m to €90m. The centre was first mooted in 2007 and the sod turned on the site in 2016. Picture: Larry Cummins

The State wants more “bang for its buck” out of the embattled Cork event centre project, it has emerged.

As a new tendering process for financial aid for the long-stalled centre is set to get underway, documents released under the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act show that the State is looking at a range of options to increase its stake in the project.