Communities Minister stands by 2011 commitment to redevelopment Casement Park
The Stormont Communities Minister has said he stands by the 2011 commitment to redevelop Casement Park as a GAA venue.
The derelict ground in west Belfast had been earmarked as a potential venue for the Euros hosted by the UK and Ireland in 2028. However, the Government announced recently that it would not help fund the project for the Euros because the risk of missing the tournament deadline was too high.
It also expressed concerns about how the cost of the project had potentially risen to more than £400 million.
READ MORE: Irish Government pushes to get Casement Euro games played in Cork
Gordon Lyons said it is back to plan A for the site, and said he stands by the commitment by Stormont in 2011 to redevelop a GAA venue at Casement as well as money for football’s Windsor Park and the rugby ground at Ravenhill. Then, the Stormont executive committed £62.5 million to the Casement project. The GAA sporting body said it will contribute £15 million.
The Irish Government has offered roughly £42 million towards the project and said this funding remains in place even without the stadium being built for the Euros.
While the two other projects went ahead, the redevelopment of Casement then was delayed because of legal challenges by local residents.
Mr Lyons said he has offered to meet the GAA.
“I think we need to go back to plan A as part of the agreement in 2011. I have offered to meet with the GAA to discuss that and to see what the next steps are going to be,” he said.
“There are obviously still considerable funding challenges there as well but I think it is important to understand from the GAA what it is that they want to do.
“But as far as the Executive commitment from 2011, that is still in place.”
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