Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

733.To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to provide an update on Casement Park redevelopment contribution; to provide the total allocation; the expenditure to date; the amount that is contained with expenditure ceilings laid out in the Stability Programme Update and Summer Economic Statement and the amount that will have to come from additional funding; the date the project was started; and the projected date of completion, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter.[34825/24]

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In February 2024 the Government agreed a range of funding allocations of more than €800 million to affirm its commitment to work with the Northern Ireland Executive, and with the UK Government, to make cross-border investments that will make the island of Ireland a better place to live for all who call it home. This is evidence of our commitment to Strand 2 of the Good Friday Agreement-North/South Co-operation and is the largest ever package of Government funding for cross-border investments.

As part of this wider set of commitments, the Government announced a commitment of €50 million through the Shared Island Fund to contribute to construction of a redeveloped Casement Park in Belfast. This allocation will contribute to the realisation of a long-planned sports infrastructure project in Belfast for gaelic games and, in the more immediate term, maximise the opportunity on foot of the joint hosting by Ireland and the United Kingdom of the EURO 2028 championship to see matches played in Northern Ireland, as well as in Ireland and Great Britain. This is both a North/South and an East/West project, and it is the Government’s wish that the ground will be made available to a wide range of sporting and cultural events.

Consistent with the Government’s policy on funding for large scale sports infrastructure, principles for funding of the project will be agreed such that it is accessible to and will benefit a range of sports, and is operated to facilitate equality, diversity and inclusion in sport, including supporting cross-community relationships in Northern Ireland and across the island.

I understand that Casement Park funding issues are currently under consideration by the UK Government and Northern Ireland Executive at present. Casement Park is owned and managed by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) and its redevelopment is a matter for the GAA and the Northern Ireland Executive.