Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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1747. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position in relation to the commitment that €10 million from the awarding of the national lottery licence is available for the development of a large scale multi-functional events centre in Cork; if this funding is still available; when the funding must be drawn down; if she is aware of the importance of this project to Cork and the southern region; if she will provide every opportunity for the funding to remain in place notwithstanding any delays that have occurred; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34720/14]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, a grant of €10 million to Cork City Council was approved in 2013 to assist in the provision of a Multifunctional Events Centre in Cork City. It was decided that the grant would be channelled through my Department. It is envisaged that the Events Centre will be capable of accommodating some 6,000 persons and cater for a range of events, including concerts, festivals, family entertainments, cultural, sports, exhibitions, conferences and trade shows. This is a public private partnership with Cork City Council leading the project. I am advised that a competitive dialogue procedure was adopted in order to engage with suitable candidates to identify and define the means best suited to satisfying the Council's needs. The Council appointed Pricewaterhouse Coopers to run the competitive process. The final phase of the tender process commenced on 21 June 2014 and was recently completed. I understand that the Council is seeking legal advice in the matter and will revert to my Department in due course.

While I will continue to keep developments in relation to this project under review, the Deputy will appreciate that the issue of allocating funding to the project in 2015 is one that will fall to be addressed in the context of the Estimates and Budgetary processes that are now under way.