Casement Park funding decision branded a 'missed opportunity' for Northern Ireland
The decision not to provide funding for Casement Park in time for Euro 2028 has been branded a "missed opportunity" for Northern Ireland.
The UK Government announced the decision on Friday night in a letter to Northern Ireland Communities Minister Gordon Lyons from the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn and Secretary of State for Culture and Sport Lisa Nandy.
The joint statement said there is a "significant risk" the stadium would not be built in time and as a result, they have "regrettably" decided that it is not appropriate to provide funding for the stadium's completion by 2028.
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Following the announcement, NI Communities Minister Gordon Lyons said: "I have been informed that it would not have been possible to build the stadium in time and that costs had escalated to over £400 million. Therefore the UK Government have determined this as not being value for money.
"I will engage with the UK Government and other partners to see how Northern Ireland can still benefit from hosting the competition and ensure that there is a lasting legacy for football in Northern Ireland.
"The department remains committed to the 2011 agreement with the GAA for a GAA stadium and we will engage with them in due course."
First Minister Michelle O'Neill said the news is "deeply disappointing" and "a missed opportunity for sport and our economy." She also hit out at the announcement coming on the same day as the UK Government pausing funding for City and Growth deals.
Ms O'Neill said: "Casement Park will be built. It’s an Executive commitment, and something that both the British and Irish governments have committed to.
"The decision not to proceed with Casement Park in time to host UEFA Euro 2028 is deeply disappointing and a missed opportunity not only for local sport, but for our economy. This was a unique opportunity to create jobs, boost tourism, and showcase our island’s sporting talent on the global stage.
“We will continue to work with the GAA, our local executive and the two governments to push this project forward and get these state-of-the-art facilities built and a first-class stadium for Gaelic games delivered.
“To make this announcement on the same day as pausing funding for the transformational City and Growth Deal for our towns and cities smacks of cynicism from the British Secretary of State.
“Hilary Benn has said clearly that Casement Park will be built, so I would urge his government to honour the commitments they’ve made and let’s get it built.”
Alliance Lagan Valley MLA David Honeyford said it's "incredibly disappointing" that the local economy will miss out on such a "monumental boost" from Euro 2028.
Mr Honeyford said: “To learn that the UK Government won’t be funding Casement Park to be developed in time to host Euro 2028 matches is disappointing enough.
“However, for the news to come on the same day as the government’s announcement that City Deals funding is to be paused, impacting towns and cities crying out for investment and regeneration right across NI, is particularly galling.
“The Euros is the third largest sporting event in the world. That the local economy will miss out on such a monumental boost, and that we in general will miss out on such a great opportunity to showcase Northern Ireland and our sporting legacy on the world stage is incredibly disheartening.
“Alliance has consistently called for Casement Park to be built and completed in time to reap all the benefits of Euro 2028, and we want to see the project ultimately completed, despite what promises have now been broken. We will therefore continue engaging with the Secretary of State and the UK Government on this going forward.”
SDLP West Belfast councillor Paul Doherty added there is "outrage locally" at the funding decision. He said: “There is outrage locally that after months of speculation the UK Government announced their decision not to help fund Casement Park to be ready in time for Euro 2028 on a Friday night.
"This is an incredibly short sighted move and the way it has been handled is very disappointing given the potential to host one of the biggest sports tournaments in the world in the North. When it came to funding, the Irish Government did not hesitate to step up and contribute and that stands in stark contrast to this decision.
“I understand that the costs of this project have increased, but hosting the Euros and building a modern stadium in our city would have paid for itself many times over. Not only would it have brought tourists flocking to Belfast in their droves, but it would have created jobs and significant economic investment in one of the most deprived parts of the North. We could have created a sporting legacy for generations and memories to last a lifetime. Instead, we get neither.
“When the Euros come to every part of these islands but the North we will realise exactly what we are missing out on. It’s damning that this incredible opportunity has been squandered. Attention must now turn to building Casement and delivering a home for Ulster GAA. While losing out on the Euros will sting for some time, Casement Park must be rebuilt and doing so will bring so much opportunity for the community in west Belfast and the wider GAA in the North.”
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