Casement costs must be met by GAA
NI Politics

Casement costs must be met by GAA

Statement by TUV North Belfast representative and party secretary Ron McDowell:

“When the new Casement Park was proposed the GAA agreed to pay £15 million of the projected £77.5 million cost. Getting a new stadium while contributing less than 20% of the cost of construction was a good deal from a GAA point of view, particularly given that they are by a considerable distance the richest sporting organisation in Northern Ireland.

“It is totally unacceptable that, with the cost of Casement ballooning to over £110 million, the GAA should refuse to contribute any more to the cost of the project. The GAA are now expecting the public purse to cover over 85% of the cost of their stadium.

“It is important to remember too that many people in Northern Ireland have zero interest in the GAA and will never darken the tunrstiles of the place.

“When set in the context of a Department of Communities which didn’t lay aside a penny to help community groups and sporting bodies mark the centenary of Northern Ireland there will be more than a few in our Province who will share my belief that the GAA has already got far too much public money for this project and is well able to cover any shortfall from its own reserves. If it is a choice between the GAA covering the shortfall and binning the project then so be it.”