No date set for opening of Esker Arts Centre in Tullamore

There appears to be no date set for the opening of Esker Arts Centre in Tullamore.

At the January 12 meeting of Tullamore Municipal District, Councillor Tony McCormack asked when it would be ready.

''I know there is an issue with technology and microchips. But do we have any idea when it will open,'' he said.

Director of Services Jean Ryan said she didn't have a date as yet.

At a special meeting of the Offaly County Council Corporate Policy Group on November 11 last which was held in advance of the council's adoption of a budget for 2023, Director of Services Sharon Kennedy, briefed the meeting on the Esker Arts Centre loan and noted that the Council had allocated €150,000 per annum to cover loan repayments. She also noted that a €2.5 million loan was to be drawn down to cover the costs of the Centre. She advised that the Centre had recently been valued at €10 million.

She noted that there were some cost overruns but these were in the main due to Covid issues.

Two unforeseen issues had come to light once construction had commenced; the requirement to underpin the supporting wall with the adjoining bank premises, and the requirement to deal with ground conditions discovered under the stage area. She noted that the Mechanical and Electrical Specifications were out of date due to the delays in bringing the project to site, and these had to be updated, with additional costs.

It was noted that the Arts Centre organising committee's fund raising was on schedule and they hoped to have raised the required sum by mid-2023.

Councillor John Clendennen queried if similar funding arrangements would be put in place for Birr Theatre. Ms Kennedy advised that a Service Level Agreement (SLA) would be put in place for the Birr Theatre similar to the one that was drafted for the Esker Arts Centre; she noted that these SLAs were a national requirement where public monies were supporting Arts Centres.