GAA must make stadium plan ‘more affordable’ if UK Government fails to fund rebuild

The GAA will need to make its plans for Casement Park more affordable if the UK Government fails to cover a £150 million (€177 million) gap for the current proposed rebuild, Northern Ireland's Sports Minister has said.

Gordon Lyons was commenting ahead of the publication next week of British Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ spending review.

The UK Government has indicated that will be the juncture when it confirms whether or not it will make a financial contribution to help deliver the stalled plans to redevelop the derelict gaelic games venue in west Belfast.

Plans for a 34,000-capacity stadium remain mired in uncertainty due to a major funding gap of around £150 million (€177 million).

Stormont ministers committed £62.5 million (€74 million) to Casement in 2011, as part of a strategy to revamp it along with football’s Windsor Park and the rugby ground at Ravenhill.

While the two other Belfast-based projects went ahead, the redevelopment of Casement was delayed for several years because of legal challenges by local residents. The estimated build cost spiralled in the interim.

With planning approval finally granted four years ago, the project, now estimated to cost around £270 million (€320 million), has latterly been held up over a dispute over funding.

In September last year, the UK Government ended hopes that the west Belfast venue would host Euro 2028 soccer games when it said it would not bridge the funding gap to deliver the reconstruction in time.

In addition to the £62.5 million (€74 million) committed by Stormont, the Irish Government has offered roughly £42 million (€49.7 million) while the GAA has pledged to contribute at least £15 million (17.7 million).

While the UK Government has said it will decide if it will