Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
EXTRA TIME FOR CASEMENT PLAN
New hope GAA stadium will be built
THE redevelopment of Casement Park could still be approved even without a minister being in place, it was claimed yesterday.
Ulster GAA said it has “welcomed correspondence received from the Department for Infrastructure which stated in the absence of a minister, the Department may make the final call on Casement’s planning application”.
But it warned lengthy delays in the process “is stalling the project’s progress and is also impacting its budgetary estimate which is now likely to be in the region of £110million”.
It was reported last October that £62.5million in public funding had been set aside for the scheme and a revised application for a 34,500-seat stadium was submitted last month. It is believed the initial estimate for the project was £77.5million.
It was also reported the then permanent secretary at the Department for Communities Leo O’reilly had said the project would not proceed in the absence of ministers.
However, now the GAA insist their “expert team has worked closely with the Department for Communities to support all requirements within the planning process”.
Tom Daly, chairman of Casement Park Project Board, criticised delays in the process.
He said: “Ulster GAA recognises and fully respects the required due diligence by the Department for Infrastructure and all statutory consultees.
“However, the prolonged nature of the planning process is stalling the project’s progress and is impacting its budgetary estimate which is now likely to be in the region of £110million.
“With every day of delay it is imperative departments discharge their responsibilities as expediently as possible to mitigate against increased costs.
“Ulster GAA is committed to the delivery of this project and to addressing the frustrations of our members and their communities’ that Gaelic Games remains the only sport which has not had its strategic stadium needs delivered within the Regional Stadia Programme, a Programme for Government priority.”
A Department for Infrastructure spokesman said they will “consider” further action after the planning process is complete.
They added: “At the point where a decision is ready to be made, in the continued absence of ministers and taking account of the context at that stage, the Department will consider whether to issue any future decision.”