Action needed to get Mayo's Mary Robinson Centre open
NEW impetus is needed to bring the Mary Robinson Centre in Ballina to full fruition.
The project comes with a cost of approximately €5.3 million, excluding fit out costs, but accounts show the financial situation of the Victoria House Foundation have 'deteriorated'.
The matter was raised in the Local Government Auditor's Report for the year ending 2023, which came before the full December meeting of Mayo County Council.
Councillor Peter Flynn said the building is 'magnificent' but he is concerned about what is going to happen with it as the most recent accounts for the Victoria House Foundation, who are behind the project, show they have 'deteriorated significantly'.
They have a significant bank overdraft and creditors and they don't recognise €800,000 that is owed to the council. They had raised €1.1m for the building but only €300,000 has made its way to the council, he said.
“In 2025 we have to determine what is the future of that building,” said Councillor Flynn. “We have to determine how do we get the doors open.
“Looking at the financial statement of Victoria House Foundation, they are not in a position to deliver on any particular use of that building.
“The obligation sits with Mayo County Council pushing this forward, working with government and the department, and figuring out the solution for it.”
Councillor Michael Loftus said it is a 'white elephant that is going to go nowhere unless they take action on it.
Something needs to be done as it's 'sitting idle, doing nothing'.
The auditor's report set out how the council is engaged in the project to transform Victoria House into the Mary Robinson Centre. The overall cost is expected to amount to approximately €5.3m, excluding fit-out costs.
The committed income sources for the project to date include funding from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Gaeltacht (DCHG) for €2m, of which €1.74m has been received to date towards the construction phase, and €1.1m from the Mary Robinson Foundation/Community Group of which €300,000 has been received to date.
The remaining €250,000 from the DCHG grant is allocated towards the fit-out.
The chief executive's response to the auditor explained how Mayo County Council remains in dialogue with the Mary Robinson Foundation in respect of the funding and fit-out and work will continue in this regard to facilitate the opening of the facility.
Work was undertaken to the coach house element in 2024 by the Foundation and a number of events took place in this area of the development.