'Priorities first' before more Casement funding, says sports minister

Stormont must fund its "priorities first" before more money is given to sporting projects such as Casement Park, the communities minister has said.

Gordon Lyons was speaking after the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) confirmed work is to begin next week on the stadium plans in west Belfast.

The redevelopment has faced many years of setbacks and delays, and questions have continued over funding for the project amid increasing construction costs.

Lyons said that while a previous Stormont funding pledge "still stands", any increase "needs to be agreed collectively".

The Northern Ireland Executive originally set aside £62.5m for Casement Park in 2011.

A proposed multi-year budget published by Finance Minister John O'Dowd proposed an inflationary increase to more than £100m.

But the Sinn Féin minister's budget proposals, which have been released for public consultation, have not been agreed by other ministers in the four-party coalition.

Asked if he supported the funding proposed for Casement Park in the draft budget, Lyons told BBC News NI he wanted to see "promises that we have already made be fulfilled".

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) minister added: "There was a promise that was made in the Programme for Government for social housing as one example of something collectively that we have agreed, yet hasn't been funded.

"I've always said I want to see more money for sport in Northern Ireland, but we have to fund our priorities first, and the priority very clearly in the housing supply strategy and the Programme for Government was social housing - that hasn't been met.

"So if there is to be additional funding for sport or for anything, that needs to be agreed collectively around the table."

First Minister Michelle O'Neill said that after many "false dawns" she believed there was now a "trajectory of actually having the project delivered".

Speaking to reporters in west Belfast, she said "sport is something that we should all prioritise together".

"Casement Park must now be delivered and got over the line finally, and I'm confident that will be the case," she added.

The Casement Park project was originally estimated to cost £77.5m, but the projected bill has risen significantly since then.

The GAA has previously said a reported estimate of around £270m was "closer" to the assumptions it was working on.

It has set aside £15m for the project, while funding has also been pledged by the UK government (£50m) and Irish government (£42m approx).

Lyons said it was "impossible" for the stadium to be completed by 2027.

"The funding is not there in totality - it has not been agreed," he said.

"The original commitment still remains, however more funding will be required, and it will be up to the GAA to look at what additional contribution they are prepared to make, or if they are prepared to reduce the size and scale of Casement Park."

In his recent annual report, Ulster GAA secretary Brian McAvoy expressed optimism on the redevelopment of Casement Park.

He said that "now there is a clearer line of sight to make the project happen".