Casement Park, Belfast, ‘dealt with by now’ if it was soccer – GAA

It was agreed, according to the minutes, that the minister would seek a meeting with the Northern Ireland Secretary, Hilary Benn, “to discuss the funding at a ministerial level”.

In the Stormont assembly on Tuesday, Lyons said he had written to the secretary of state “to ask for an update on the government’s view of the project”.

The Northern Ireland Executive originally pledged £62.5m towards Casement Park, with the GAA providing £15m.

But the plans have suffered years of setbacks and the projected cost has risen significantly beyond the initial estimate of £77.5m.

In September, the UK government said the estimated build costs had “risen dramatically” to “potentially over £400m”.

Ulster GAA secretary Brian McAvoy said this cost was “wildly exaggerated”.

The organisation has sought to slightly modify the stadium design after plans to host some Euro 2028 matches were dropped.

In November, the GAA said a reported estimate of around £270m was “closer” to the assumptions it was working on.

The Department for Communities (DfC) and the GAA have been approached for comment.