Government approves detailed business case for Cork Event Centre

The Government has approved a detailed business case for the Cork Event Centre, which will allow the project to progress to tender stage.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin told The Echo that the project was progressing according to plan, and that this latest update was a “very significant welcome step."

“I very warmly welcome the decision to accept the business case by government today, which will allow city council to put the plans out to tender,” he said.

This latest update comes 10 years on from when taoiseach Enda Kenny turned the sod at the former Beamish and Crawford site in 2016.

Brian Geaney, chairperson of the Cork Event Centre Project Development Board and assistant chief executive of Cork City Council, told The Echo that the council submitted a Detailed Business Case (DBC) to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage last month.

Progress report

Minister James Browne provided a progress report to government today following a review of the DBC he said, and competitive dialogue procurement process is expected to begin shortly after the DBC is formally approved, and will conclude with the identification of a preferred bidder.

The successful bidder will reportedly be required to run the event centre for several years, will be required to provide 50% of the capital funding for construction, and fully fund maintenance and running of the centre.

It is understood that the delivery model chosen means neither Cork City Council nor the State will own the site.

Mr Geaney said that among the matters to be determined through the procurement process will be the level of State aid required for completion of the project, and the terms and conditions that will be attached to that.

He said it would not be appropriate to comment on these in detail.

"However, I can provide assurance that protecting the State investment and ensuring value for money will obviously be key considerations," he said.

Labour councillor Peter Horgan told The Echo that he trusted the process established by Brian Geaney but that a final decision should be voted on by city councillors.