Process around Cork Event Centre 'shrouded in secrecy'

THE parliamentary advisor to Labour TD Sean Sherlock and local Labour representative Peter Horgan has said the process around Cork’s event centre “continues to be shrouded in secrecy”.

His comments come as information was released to the Labour Party following a Parliamentary Question (PQ) by Mr Sherlock, in which it was confirmed by Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien that the €16 million budgeted for the event centre in 2024 is not additional funding but the estimated funding requirement necessary to meet financial commitments expected to arise during the year as the project progresses.

Mr Sherlock had asked the Housing Minister the reason €16 million for the event centre was pledged under Budget 2024.

He also asked the Minister what documentation was received by his department to come to that decision, if he will publish that documentation, and if he will detail all public monies currently pledged to the project following the decision in the budget.

Minister O’Brien said Cork City Council is currently undertaking a full verification process and detailed cost analysis on the final project costings and that the €16 million is not additional funding. 

 “It was agreed by Government in the context of Budget 2020 that responsibility for making the grant funding available for the project would transfer to my department.

“However, responsibility for the advancement of the project remains, in the first instance, a matter for Cork City Council.

“Cork City Council have advised my department that the full detailed design of the events centre has been completed and that they are currently undertaking a full verification process and detailed cost analysis on the final costings.

“The €16m budgeted for the Cork events centre in 2024 is not additional funding for the project."

 Speaking to The Echo, Mr Horgan said: “The entire process around the event centre continues to be shrouded in secrecy.

“What is the final sum to the Cork taxpayer? We need to see all the documents published and consider them in public.

“We have dereliction renewal around the area on pause in the hope this project happens but we still have no date for diggers on the ground.”