Tánaiste says legal issues behind Cork Event Centre delay

Legal issues are further delaying Cork’s proposed event centre, it has been revealed.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin issued the update when asked about the project by media at a Munster Rugby event in Cork on Friday.

“It’s not a funding issue, in terms of capacity of funding, but issues have arisen, legal issues have arisen, and the Government will be making a decision in the context of those issues very shortly,” he said.

Initially, the consortium that won the tender for the centre, Bam and Live Nation, was expected to benefit from €20m in State funding, which was later increased to €50m, and then to €57m.

It was revealed at a Cork City Council meeting in December that additional funding would be required for the project, due to inflation, and following the completion of a detailed design.

Mr Martin said he has been supportive of the project, taking the decision as Taoiseach to allocate additional funding to it, along with Government colleagues, in 2021.

The Tánaiste said that since completion of detailed design “significantly increased” costs, State funding is now required to develop the 6,000-seater centre earmarked for South Main St.

Also speaking on Friday, Fine Gael TD Simon Coveney reiterated his support for the project. “Cork needs an events centre, has a fantastic site and a fantastic proposal that’s ready to go, but there are genuine issues and there have been many issues that have had to be overcome to get this far.”

Mr Martin would not be drawn on when that decision would be announced, “We’re all frustrated with it. Legal issues have arisen and I’m going to say no more than that at this stage, but they will come before Government very, very shortly,” he said.