The Ulster Unionist Party’s Sports Spokesperson, Andy Allen MBE MLA, has responded to the GAA’s assertion that it does not plan to increase its contribution to the cost of redeveloping Casement Park, as unacceptable.
Andy Allen said:
“The news that the GAA has no plans to increase its contribution for the redevelopment of Casement Park is unacceptable and will dismay many people right across our society. Indeed, as recently as October, the then Communities Minister, Caral Ni Chuilin said that it was no longer tenable for the GAA to hold that position.
“The reality is that the Casement Park project has already been allocated £62M of public money, which is more than football and rugby combined received for the redevelopment of Windsor Park and Ravenhill. To expect the public purse to come up with another £33M is simply not viable, especially when the GAA posted a record annual revenue of 74m Euro in 2019.
“Back in 2012 when funding for the three stadiums was agreed, the allocations were £28.75 M for the redevelopment of Windsor Park, £14.7M for the redevelopment of Ravenhill, and £62M for the redevelopment of Casement Park, with an additional £15M being put up by the GAA itself.
“Both the football and rugby projects were for 18,000 capacity stadiums and were delivered on time and within budget. The Casement plans envisaged a 38,000 capacity and experienced delays due to planning and safety issues, which could have been addressed by a much smaller stadium. Costs would also be much lower with a smaller capacity and that is the obvious solution.
“Eventually the GAA revised their plans for a 34,000 stadium and although the cost of Casement has gone up by £33M, the GAA has stated it will not increase its original £15M contribution to Casement.
“The GAA needs to cut its cloth to fit its budget. If the GAA wants a 34,000 stadium then it - not the public purse - needs to make up the difference between the £62M that was promised by the Executive under the Regional Stadia programme in 2012, and what the GAA wants to spend now.”