GAA reconsiders extra Casement funds as costs fall

For the first time the GAA has said it would be "happy" to consider contributing additional funds towards Casement Park, after it emerged the estimated cost of the project has fallen by about £30m.

BBC News NI understands that the new cost for the redevelopment of Casement Park has dropped to £270m.

It follows the decision by the GAA to slightly modify the stadium design after plans to host some games of the Euro 2028 football tournament in the stadium were dropped.

The GAA has consistently pledged £15m towards the redevelopment but its president, Jarlath Burns, said in February he is against contributing any more.

Those comments came before the news that the stadium would not be built in time for Euro 2028.

Stephen McGeehan, Ulster GAA's head of operations, told BBC News NI "when that conversation happens about additional funding, the GAA will not be found wanting".

However, he added "we do need to see the colour of the money from the UK Treasury".

The GAA would not confirm the £270m figure but said it was "closer" to the assumptions is is working on.

Mr McGeehan said he expected the actual construction costs would be less than what had been speculated on Tuesday.

Initial estimates had suggested it would cost more than £300m to complete the west Belfast ground to Uefa specifications.

Earlier, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons said the GAA should look again at its financial contribution, adding he was not in a position to pay more than the £62m already pledged by the Northern Ireland Executive.

Last month GAA president Jarlath Burns said the new design was “basic and modest” but would still cater for more than 30,000 fans.

At the time he said it was a “significantly smaller cost” as they had removed much of the “fit out”.

“We have managed to retain the number of people who will fit into it, while having it to a lower specification," he said.

It is believed changes include replacing seating in some areas of the ground with terracing, reducing press facilities and altering the hospitality layout as well as the plans for WiFi infrastructure.

Mr Burns was speaking after a meeting with Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, which he described as positive at the time.

However it has now emerged Mr Burns accused Lyons of “dragging his heels” on the project during the meeting.

He also challenged Lyons over his failure to attend any GAA matches.

One source said the talks at times were “fraught and tetchy”.

Lyons has attended a GAA event but not a match.

Speaking on the Nolan Show, Lyons said: "I had a good conversation with Jarlath Burns.

"There was a good exchange of opinions and views.

"I think that there has been frustration, that's obvious and I think everybody has been frustrated about how long this has gone on."

The minister has also insisted the Northern Ireland Executive will fulfil a previous financial pledge to support the Casement Park development.

It promised £62m while the Irish government has pledged more than £40m.

With the GAA's commitment of £15m, that leaves a shortfall of about £150m if the stadium is to be completed to the current price tag.

The GAA is now seeking a meeting with Secretary of State Hilary Benn to discuss the revised cost with a view to securing funding from the government.

Lyons told The Nolan Show that "we need to tease out what it is exactly that is required and what is reasonable as well".

"I’ve been allocated a sum from previous executive agreements and I can take you line by line through my budget, I’m not in the position to allocate additional resource.

"That would be a decision for the executive and there would be other competing demands as well."

He said he thought it was reasonable that the GAA looks again at its contribution to the project if it is looking for "additional contribution from elsewhere".

Speaking at the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee on Tuesday, Secretary of State Hilary Benn pointed the finger at the previous government for the fact that Casement Park would not be built in time for Euro 2028.

"It’s a great sadness for everybody, what a great opportunity this was for football in Northern Ireland," he told the committee.

"When the Euros were awarded to the United Kingdom and Ireland everyone thought ‘right, that’s Casement Park done and dusted' because the last government said ‘yes it will be built, we’ll find the money’.

"We got elected in July and of course nothing had been done, nothing for 18 months apart from warm words."

He said the Labour government consulted on whether it would be possible to get Casement built in time for the Euros and was told if more than £400m was spent on the project it might be ready, but there would be no guarantee.

“So I’m afraid the only decision we could reach was this can’t go ahead and that then left ‘well what are we going to do now?'" he said.

“What the prime minster has said is we need to see an alternative proposition. At the moment we don't know the answer to that question."

Mr Benn said he is not in a position to say whether the UK would make a contribution.

"In the end you’re going to have to have a proposition with a sum of money that is capable of building it bearing in mind the continuing effects of building price inflation," he said.

"I think in the interests of respecting all of the sporting traditions in Northern Ireland it’s important that Casement Park is built."