Government's £50m Casement Park pledge a 'crucial milestone'
GAA president Jarlath Burns has welcomed the government's "important and significant" contribution for the redevelopment of Casement Park, but added it is not the "final piece of the jigsaw".
A £50m commitment for the west Belfast stadium project was confirmed as part of chancellor Rachel Reeves' Spending Review on Wednesday.
Rebuilding the stadium, which has been derelict since 2013, will cost approximately £260m, of which £120m was already in place from the Stormont Executive (£62.5m), the Irish government (about £43m) and the GAA (£15m).
That still leaves a shortfall of around £90m, although the GAA previously acknowledged it will need to increase its commitment.
In its statement, the GAA said Wednesday's announcement was a "crucial milestone that will be a key catalyst" in redeveloping the stadium.
"From taking office, the secretary of state (Hilary Benn) has been clear that Casement Park needs to be delivered," said Burns.
"He recognised the GAA's commitment and goodwill in sharing venues for the benefit of everyone in our society, dating back to the Maze Long Kesh project, and more recently offering Casement Park as a Euro 2028 Championship venue.
"His support and that of the UK Government now represents a critical opportunity to finish this NI Executive flagship project, delivering the last remaining stadium of the 14-year Regional Stadia Programme, and helping to leave a lasting legacy not only for the Gaels of Antrim and Ulster, but for all of society."
Burns added: "We know, however, that this is not the final piece of [the] jigsaw and there is much more work to do. The GAA will engage directly, with the NI Executive and the Department for Communities to ensure that all parties actively pursue, and secure, a full funding package that will deliver upon the GAA's strategic stadium need."
Ulster GAA president Michael Geoghegan said: "With this announcement there is now growing momentum and belief that Antrim's home and Ulster's provincial stadium is a step closer.
"We look forward to the project getting started and hosting some of the largest, most exciting and significant games on the island of Ireland while also significantly adding to economic recovery and regeneration in Belfast and beyond."
Casement Park: All you need to know about the stadium soap opera
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