Casement Park: 'Considerable amount' still needed for project says Gordon Lyons

The Stormont minister in charge of the redevelopment of Casement Park stadium in west Belfast has said a "considerable" amount of money still needs to be found for the project to go ahead.

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons said funding remained a "big difficulty".

The stadium must be completed by the summer of 2027, at the latest.

This is in order to host games in the Euro 2028 soccer tournament.

Although it will be primarily for GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) games, the 34,500-capacity stadium is one of 10 venues in the UK and Ireland due to host matches in the Euros.

The original cost of the Casement Park redevelopment was £77.5m, but that was a decade ago.

In an interview with BBC News NI, it was put to the minister that the cost could now exceed £200m.

He said: "The number isn't finalised but even if it was … for commercial reasons I can't go into the details of what that might be.

"But I think it's fair to say, and most people recognise, that it is going be considerably more than what was originally envisaged back in 2011."

Public money was promised to the project in 2011 as part of a scheme to improve sporting facilities for GAA, rugby and soccer in Northern Ireland.

The GAA has said it is willing to pay at least £15m, with other funding coming from Stormont, plus the British and Irish governments.

Mr Lyons said he did not yet have clarity on how much the London and Dublin governments are willing to contribute but said the amounts would be "key".

As for his own responsibilities, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) minister said it is "not going to be a decision that I will make alone".

"There are different funders that will be required in order for this to proceed," he added.

"But I will say this very clearly - I am going to be the minister for sport.

"Not for one particular sport, not for one particular section of society.

"I know the benefit of sport.

"I know it's played in many different areas in many ways, I am going to be a champion for sport in Northern Ireland and nobody should have any fear about me being in this position."

Asked if he was confident that Casement Park could be rebuilt in time for Euro 2028, Mr Lyons said that is "entirely dependent upon the funding envelope being made available".

"What we do need to have as well, if there will be additional UK public funds committed to Casement Park, I think it is important that we see that investment in football as well," Mr Lyons said.

"A footballing tournament should have a footballing legacy and I'm really keen to see that progressed."

Mr Lyons added: "If there's going to be public funding additionally required, I want to see additional funding on the basis of that agreement in 2011 so that all sports can benefit but in particular, I think that most reasonable people will agree that it's important that a footballing tournament has a footballing legacy."

In November last year, the GAA said that work would need to begin by the end of May 2024, to meet a deadline set by the football governing body UEFA.

It was announced at the same time that a new contractor for the project was being sought.

The redevelopment has been plagued by difficulties and delays over the past decade, but the GAA has always remained committed to the project.

There have been some signs of progress in recent weeks with a job being advertised for the role of technical director of the project.

The Irish Football Association has said it remains confident that the redevelopment will be completed in time for Euro 2028.

The stadium, on the Andersonstown Road in west Belfast, has been derelict since 2013.

As part of a package of measures agreed a decade ago, the Stormont executive agreed to improve football facilities in Northern Ireland.

A total of £36.2m was pledged to what is known as a sub-regional stadia fund.

Mr Lyons said he had asked and tasked his officials to "urgently come forward with options for me, as a matter of priority so that we can get this money out as soon as possible".

Given rising costs and the passage of time, there have been calls to increase the funding to more than £100m.

Mr Lyons added: "£36.2m doesn't go as far in 2024 as it did in 2011, and so I will be speaking to executive colleagues about the next phase of the sub-regional funding."