Question to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Mr Brendan Howlin, TD)
To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide details of this Government’s commitment to developing a proposed Convention Centre in Cork; if there is a timeline envisaged for the development of this important infrastructural project; the anticipated tourism and economic benefits of this commitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. – Jerry Buttimer.
For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 7th November, 2013.
REPLY
On Budget day this year, I announced additional investment of €200m from the proceeds of the National Lottery Licence transaction. This investment will be used to progress a number of additional projects and programmes in 2014 including the project to which the Deputy refers. The precise allocation of the proceeds to the Departments concerned is being determined at present and will be published in the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2014 which will be published in December. My Department will not have any involvement in the management and/or roll-out of this or any of the other projects to be funded from the Lottery Licence transaction. That will be a matter for the relevant Minister and his/her Department. Of course, Departments must ensure that, as with all capital projects, those to be funded through this additional investment are appraised in line with the processes set out in the Public Spending Code.