Cork events centre retendering process ‘to take up to 18 months’

A Government minister has said it is anticipated the retendering process for the Cork events centre will take between 12 and 18 months, adding further delays to the building of the long-awaited facility.

Replying to a parliamentary question from Sinn Fein TD for Cork North Central, Thomas Gould, Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien said: “Following delays since the project began and further engagement with Cork City Council, it is clear the only surefooted way of ensuring that an events centre is developed in Cork city is to commence the procurement process and State aid engagement afresh.

“In this regard, on October 22, the Government reaffirmed its commitment to the Cork Events Centre.

“It is the Government’s intention to appoint a project development board, led by Cork City Council and with representatives from key stakeholder organisations, to ensure that the most appropriate funding and ownership model is chosen and that those preferred models inform the new procurement process.

“I expect the new procurement process to be completed within 12 to 18 months.”

No lessons learned

Mr Gould told The Echo: “This project was first announced in 2014. A decade later, and it would appear no lessons have been learned.

“It is not clear whether this tender will have any protections to prevent further delays and rising costs.

“We cannot forget that Fine Gael, with the support of Fianna Fáil, have already spent over €1.5m on this project. That is more money gone to waste under this Government. There is no clear indication that this time will be any different.

“Fine Gael are genuinely retendering a project that they turned the sod ahead of the 2016 general election.

“It was supposed to be completed by 2018. It is just embarrassing.

“Describing an 18-month retendering process, with no lessons learned, as the only surefooted way to move forward on the project is a joke.”