Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 April 2019
610. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her Department's role in the planned convention centre in Cork; if officials from her Department have attended meetings on same since it was announced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14829/19]
View answer611. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the role her Department has had in finding a solution to the funding of the convention centre in Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14837/19]
View answer612. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she has met with the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to discuss the delays in the convention centre in Cork; if so, the items that were discussed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14841/19]
View answer614. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the way in which the Cork convention centre will be progressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14849/19]
View answer615. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she or her officials were consulted regarding the way in which the contracts for the Cork convention centre were drawn up; if contracts will be renewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14853/19]
View answer616. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the role her officials have had in relation to the convention centre in Cork since it was first announced in 2014 in tabular form or otherwise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14857/19]
View answer617. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if there is a financial allocation from her Department being allocated to the Cork convention centre; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14861/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 610 to 612, inclusive, and 614 to 617, inclusive, together.
The Cork Event Centre project is being led by Cork City Council with the development company BAM, having been selected by Cork City Council as the preferred tenderer. BAM in turn has engaged international events company Live Nation as the preferred operator. The project is ultimately being developed and managed by Cork City Council. This means that Cork City Council has responsibility for its delivery.
The latest financial projections provided by Cork City Council to my Department indicates an increase in the original cost of project compared to when the project tender was issued in December 2014, which had an estimated cost of €50 million. The cost is now estimated at some €80 million. A significant part of this increase is accounted for by a redesign of the facility since the original tender to allow for an increase in the capacity of the venue.
In light of this cost increase, Cork City Council wrote to my Department seeking additional funding of €10m for the project from the Exchequer. This would bring the Exchequer contribution to €22 million and total public funding to €30 million.
Following detailed consideration and in light of the additional works which are now required for the Event Centre, my Department considers that, in accordance with public procurement rules, the total public funding for the project may be increased by €10 million to €30 million, made up of grant aid of €21 million and a repayable loan of €9 million.
Officials in my Department wrote to Cork City Council on 21 December 2018 regarding the provision of additional public funding for the development of the Event Centre. Furthermore, officials in my Department met with Cork City Council officials in January and March to discuss all aspects around the public funding elements of the project.
High level meetings have taken place regarding legal and funding requirements. I have attended meetings on this project involving the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs on a number of occasions to discuss outstanding matters. Officials in my Department met with Cork City Council in January and March to discuss all aspects around the public funding elements of the project and continue to liaise with the City Council in this regard.
I understand that Cork City Council is also reviewing a number of elements of the project; including planning matters as well as certain legal and funding issues. All parties are eager for this project to progress and be delivered in accordance with the Public Financial Procedures and the Public Spending Code. Dialogue will continue with Cork City Council in this regard.
