Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Barry asked about the Cork event centre. I do not have an update. The Minister, Deputy Coveney, gave me a verbal update on it recently and I promise to get back to him when I have a chance to find out more about the project. I think it is a very good project and will be really great for the city of Cork and the wider region. Of course, it is embarrassing that it has not recommenced work after such a long pause. It is a very different project to the one that was initially envisaged. That is why the costs have gone up, as well as other reasons including inflation and the passage of time. We are very keen to see it under construction as soon as possible. I cannot give a cost or timeline at the moment but I hope we can do so in the very near future.

Deputy Cian O'Callaghan raised youth services. I know from my own constituency the real value that youth work can do. There are proposals in for additional funding for youth work in the budget. As I have told Deputies throughout the day, and will again tomorrow, the budget is not decided yet and I am not in a position to make any commitments or announcements today.

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