Will UK government announce funding?

Announcement due over UK government's Casement funding

13 minutes ago Share Save Jayne McCormack & John Campbell BBC News NI Share Save

PA Media The redevelopment of Casement Park is estimated to cost about £260m

The government will announce later on Wednesday whether it will make a financial contribution towards the redevelopment of Casement Park. Rebuilding the west Belfast stadium is estimated to cost about £260m - of which £120m in funding is jointly in place from the Stormont Executive, the Irish government and the GAA. Pressure has been building on the government to make a decision, which is now anticipated as part of the Spending Review. The review will allocate money to day-to-day public services for the next three years.

It will also set infrastructure budgets for the next four years. The review will directly affect what Stormont ministers have to spend on public services in Northern Ireland. Ministers are also expected to find out if they have succeeded in persuading the Treasury that Stormont's finances require a more generous "needs-based" top-up.

PA Media Chancellor Rachel Reeves will deliver the Spending Review at about 12:30 BST

Last week, Finance Minister John O'Dowd said he believed the Treasury was in "solution-finding mode" when it came to reaching agreement on funding for Casement Park. Days later, a senior figure in the GAA said the association was "cautiously optimistic" that an announcement on funding was coming this week. The Stormont executive is contributing £62.5m to the project, the GAA will pay £15m, while the Irish government has pledged about £43m. The GAA has acknowledged it will need to increase its commitment. "We are prepared to step up. It would be premature to start mentioning figures here. I think it will be higher than £15m", said Stephen McGeehan, the project lead for the stadium redevelopment. Casement Park, with a proposed 34,500 capacity, had been earmarked to host football games at the Euro 2028 football tournament but, with the project on hold, the plan was shelved.

Stormont's Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has defended his handling of the planned Casement redevelopment and insisted the hold-up is not his fault. He has said the GAA will need to make its plans for the stadium more affordable if the government fails to cover the gap for the current proposed rebuild. "What we do need to make sure is that any additional public funding that comes forward for sport is done on a fair and equitable basis," he said.

Could Stormont get a bigger top-up?

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