Michelle O’Neill ‘determined’ that Casement Park will be rebuilt

First Minister Michelle O’Neill has said she is determined that Casement Park will be rebuilt in time for Euro 2028.

But deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said any funding for the GAA stadium must be provided on a “fair and equitable basis”.

The Stormont leaders addressed the saga during a visit to a GAA club in west Belfast, close to Casement Park.

The derelict ground has been earmarked as a venue for the Euro 2028 football tournament.

Reports over the weekend suggested the cost of building a new stadium on the site for the Euros could cost £308 million.

In 2011, the Stormont Executive committed £62.5 million to the project.

Last month, the Irish Government offered £40 million towards it, and the GAA has said it will contribute £15 million.

A leaked letter reported by UTV on Friday suggested the UK Government had reservations around plugging the remaining funding gap.

Ms O’Neill said: “Casement Park is a flagship project for the Executive, it is the remaining stadium to be built and I am determined to see that that is the case.

“We are still working our way through the detail.

“I have read some of those figures and I think we need to dissect that a lot further.

“I hope we can move very quickly to get Casement built because that is part of the Euro bid which is going to be such a huge economic benefit for the people here.

“I am determined for us to get this project over the line and to secure the Euros here.

“The Euros is a huge opportunity for us not to be missed.”

Ms Little-Pengelly said no guarantees could be given until the costs are confirmed.

She said: “Costs have increased, we have yet to see what the cost of that is and we will consider that fully in the Executive in terms of proposals that come forward.