Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Ulster GAA council will make its own decisions about stadiums but to be clear, Clones is not in competition with Casement Park from a Government point of view. The primary responsibility for the funding of Casement Park is really with the GAA but also the British Government, which has given an unconditional commitment to ensure the funding is there for Casement Park. The Taoiseach has said that we may be in a position to support that and the details of that can be worked out but this is not in competition with Clones.As Casement Park would not be eligible to apply for LSSIF funding, for example, due to the structure of the island at the moment, that is not going to happen.

If the GAA or Monaghan County Council wish to prioritise Clones as a project, it will be open to them to apply for significant funding under the LSSIF, which is on a much bigger scale than the SCEP. Clones has received significant funding from the SCEP in recent years. I know the Senator was key in fighting for that. It received €350,000 in 2018 and there was almost €180,000 in the most recent round of the SCEP. The latter sum has yet to be drawn down. Significant funding is being sought in this round of the SCEP. The advocacy of the Senator is noted. If I were involved in St. Tiernach's GFC, Monaghan GAA or Ulster GAA, I would certainly be looking at what can be done to ensure the stadium is kept up to high standards and matches continue to be held there. I have no doubt matches will continue to be played there. As the Senator stated, people have strong memories of great experiences going to matches at the stadium and I am sure they want that to continue. We want to have more facilities. Casement Park will be an addition to the island when it is done, and Clones stadium is there. We want to see them all progress.