Discussions on the development of a major 5,000-seater event centre in Cork as part of a €700 million redevelopment of Horgan's Quay have taken place between Cork City manager Joe Gavin and an interested party.
There is provision for the development of such a centre under the North Docklands Local Area Development Plan which has been agreed by the council.
CIÉ recently agreed a deal with Manor Park Homes for development of the 14-acre site at Horgan's Quay.
Mr Joe Gavin confirmed yesterday that he has put a third party in contact with Manor Park to see if they could come to an agreement to develop an events centre as part of the project.
The development agreement between CIÉ and Manor Park Homes will see 1,300 high-quality apartments built at the eastern end of the site adjoining Cork's Kent Station, between the Lower Glanmire Road and the River Lee.
Under the plan, retail, office and leisure facilities will be built at the western end of the site which fronts on to the river.
The development will also involve a €20 million refurbishment and reconfiguration of Kent Station so that it is facing the city centre and the waterfront.
Mr Gavin said yesterday Cork should have a venue like the Point so that people do not have to travel to Dublin or Killarney for major concerts.
He believed the best location for such a facility is Horgan's Quay, given its proximity to Kent Station and the city centre.
The site was the subject of controversy in 1995 when then minister for transport Michael Lowry refused to sanction CIÉ's decision to sell three acres to Cork developer Owen O'Callaghan for £200,000 an acre.
The site was never offered for public tender and Mr Lowry said there was "a cosy cartel" operating in the semi-State sector.
Mr O'Callaghan, who planned to develop a hi-tech park on the site, withdrew his proposal.
It is understood that, under the terms of the agreement with Manor Park Homes, CIÉ will receive some €200 million over a 10-year period.
The company will use the money to fund the reconfiguration of Kent Station in Cork and the purchase of new rolling stock.
Mr Gavin said the agreement was a positive step towards the development of the site in line with Cork City Council's North Docklands Local Area Development Plan aimed at regenerating the lower north city quays.
He said once Manor Park lodges a planning application, he expected planning issues to be resolved within six to eight months. "There is no reason why construction on the site could not commence in 2007," he added.
According to CIÉ, completion of the Horgan's Quay site could take up to 10 years.
But the extensive public consultation process which preceded the adoption of the local area plan means the planning process may take less time than is usual for such a large development.
Manor Park Homes is 51 per cent owned by businessman Joe Moran and 49 per cent owned by sales, marketing and business support services group DCC.
