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North Wales Chronicle
27-05-2025
- Business
- North Wales Chronicle
O'Neill ‘determined to see Casement Park over the line'
The planned refurb of the derelict GAA ground in west Belfast has faced years of delay due to legal action by concerned residents and funding uncertainty. Asked for an update on the situation during Executive Office questions on Tuesday by SDLP MLA Justin McNulty, Ms O'Neill said she consistently raises Casement Park with all levels of the British and Irish Governments. She was also due to meet with Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to discuss it on Tuesday afternoon. Currently plans for a 34,000-capacity venue on the site are in limbo due to a major funding gap of around £150 million. Last year the UK government ended hopes that the Belfast venue would host Euro 2028 soccer games when it said it would not bridge the funding gap to deliver the reconstruction in time. The Stormont Executive has committed £62.5 million to the redevelopment, the Irish Government has offered roughly £42 million while the GAA has pledged to contribute at least £15 million. The UK Government has said it will decide if it will make a contribution to the build costs as part of next month's UK-wide Spending Review. However, Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn has made clear that even if the Government does divert money to the project, the sum will not alone bridge the current funding gap. On Tuesday, Ms O'Neill said: 'We have to put every bit of energy and effort that we have to ensure that it is will be built. 'This is an Executive flagship project. 'I am determined to see it over the line, and I'm determined to work with all partners to ensure that that is the case.' Referring to Mr Lyons attending his first GAA match in post at the weekend, Ms O'Neill said she hopes he 'got a sense of how important it is to Gaels right across this island to play games in their own stadiums'. 'But I am absolutely determined to ensure that we get movement on Casement Park, and that means working with the minister, that means working with the British government, the Irish government, the GAA and all partners who are committed to ensuring that this project gets over the line. 'It is going to take all the partners working together to ensure that it is across the line. 'We missed a huge opportunity in terms of the Euros not being able to play and have our part in all of that, and the economic benefit that that would have brought to us all. 'It's a long overdue home for Ulster Gaels, and it is now time to get it built. 'I can say that I am determined to continue to work with everybody to ensure that the funding contribution is put on the table so that we can get on with actually building the project.'
South Wales Guardian
27-05-2025
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
O'Neill ‘determined to see Casement Park over the line'
The planned refurb of the derelict GAA ground in west Belfast has faced years of delay due to legal action by concerned residents and funding uncertainty. Asked for an update on the situation during Executive Office questions on Tuesday by SDLP MLA Justin McNulty, Ms O'Neill said she consistently raises Casement Park with all levels of the British and Irish Governments. She was also due to meet with Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to discuss it on Tuesday afternoon. Currently plans for a 34,000-capacity venue on the site are in limbo due to a major funding gap of around £150 million. Last year the UK government ended hopes that the Belfast venue would host Euro 2028 soccer games when it said it would not bridge the funding gap to deliver the reconstruction in time. The Stormont Executive has committed £62.5 million to the redevelopment, the Irish Government has offered roughly £42 million while the GAA has pledged to contribute at least £15 million. The UK Government has said it will decide if it will make a contribution to the build costs as part of next month's UK-wide Spending Review. However, Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn has made clear that even if the Government does divert money to the project, the sum will not alone bridge the current funding gap. On Tuesday, Ms O'Neill said: 'We have to put every bit of energy and effort that we have to ensure that it is will be built. 'This is an Executive flagship project. 'I am determined to see it over the line, and I'm determined to work with all partners to ensure that that is the case.' Referring to Mr Lyons attending his first GAA match in post at the weekend, Ms O'Neill said she hopes he 'got a sense of how important it is to Gaels right across this island to play games in their own stadiums'. 'But I am absolutely determined to ensure that we get movement on Casement Park, and that means working with the minister, that means working with the British government, the Irish government, the GAA and all partners who are committed to ensuring that this project gets over the line. 'It is going to take all the partners working together to ensure that it is across the line. 'We missed a huge opportunity in terms of the Euros not being able to play and have our part in all of that, and the economic benefit that that would have brought to us all. 'It's a long overdue home for Ulster Gaels, and it is now time to get it built. 'I can say that I am determined to continue to work with everybody to ensure that the funding contribution is put on the table so that we can get on with actually building the project.'
Rhyl Journal
27-05-2025
- Business
- Rhyl Journal
O'Neill ‘determined to see Casement Park over the line'
The planned refurb of the derelict GAA ground in west Belfast has faced years of delay due to legal action by concerned residents and funding uncertainty. Asked for an update on the situation during Executive Office questions on Tuesday by SDLP MLA Justin McNulty, Ms O'Neill said she consistently raises Casement Park with all levels of the British and Irish Governments. She was also due to meet with Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to discuss it on Tuesday afternoon. Currently plans for a 34,000-capacity venue on the site are in limbo due to a major funding gap of around £150 million. Last year the UK government ended hopes that the Belfast venue would host Euro 2028 soccer games when it said it would not bridge the funding gap to deliver the reconstruction in time. The Stormont Executive has committed £62.5 million to the redevelopment, the Irish Government has offered roughly £42 million while the GAA has pledged to contribute at least £15 million. The UK Government has said it will decide if it will make a contribution to the build costs as part of next month's UK-wide Spending Review. However, Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn has made clear that even if the Government does divert money to the project, the sum will not alone bridge the current funding gap. On Tuesday, Ms O'Neill said: 'We have to put every bit of energy and effort that we have to ensure that it is will be built. 'This is an Executive flagship project. 'I am determined to see it over the line, and I'm determined to work with all partners to ensure that that is the case.' Referring to Mr Lyons attending his first GAA match in post at the weekend, Ms O'Neill said she hopes he 'got a sense of how important it is to Gaels right across this island to play games in their own stadiums'. 'But I am absolutely determined to ensure that we get movement on Casement Park, and that means working with the minister, that means working with the British government, the Irish government, the GAA and all partners who are committed to ensuring that this project gets over the line. 'It is going to take all the partners working together to ensure that it is across the line. 'We missed a huge opportunity in terms of the Euros not being able to play and have our part in all of that, and the economic benefit that that would have brought to us all. 'It's a long overdue home for Ulster Gaels, and it is now time to get it built. 'I can say that I am determined to continue to work with everybody to ensure that the funding contribution is put on the table so that we can get on with actually building the project.'
Leader Live
27-05-2025
- Business
- Leader Live
O'Neill ‘determined to see Casement Park over the line'
The planned refurb of the derelict GAA ground in west Belfast has faced years of delay due to legal action by concerned residents and funding uncertainty. Asked for an update on the situation during Executive Office questions on Tuesday by SDLP MLA Justin McNulty, Ms O'Neill said she consistently raises Casement Park with all levels of the British and Irish Governments. She was also due to meet with Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to discuss it on Tuesday afternoon. Currently plans for a 34,000-capacity venue on the site are in limbo due to a major funding gap of around £150 million. Last year the UK government ended hopes that the Belfast venue would host Euro 2028 soccer games when it said it would not bridge the funding gap to deliver the reconstruction in time. The Stormont Executive has committed £62.5 million to the redevelopment, the Irish Government has offered roughly £42 million while the GAA has pledged to contribute at least £15 million. The UK Government has said it will decide if it will make a contribution to the build costs as part of next month's UK-wide Spending Review. However, Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn has made clear that even if the Government does divert money to the project, the sum will not alone bridge the current funding gap. On Tuesday, Ms O'Neill said: 'We have to put every bit of energy and effort that we have to ensure that it is will be built. 'This is an Executive flagship project. 'I am determined to see it over the line, and I'm determined to work with all partners to ensure that that is the case.' Referring to Mr Lyons attending his first GAA match in post at the weekend, Ms O'Neill said she hopes he 'got a sense of how important it is to Gaels right across this island to play games in their own stadiums'. 'But I am absolutely determined to ensure that we get movement on Casement Park, and that means working with the minister, that means working with the British government, the Irish government, the GAA and all partners who are committed to ensuring that this project gets over the line. 'It is going to take all the partners working together to ensure that it is across the line. 'We missed a huge opportunity in terms of the Euros not being able to play and have our part in all of that, and the economic benefit that that would have brought to us all. 'It's a long overdue home for Ulster Gaels, and it is now time to get it built. 'I can say that I am determined to continue to work with everybody to ensure that the funding contribution is put on the table so that we can get on with actually building the project.'
The Journal
24-05-2025
- Business
- The Journal
Belfast train station ticket system for Dublin passengers slammed as 'partitionist' and 'nuts'
A STORMONT MLA has slammed the ticketing system for Republic-bound passengers in Belfast's new train station Grand Central, calling it 'partitionist' and 'nuts'. Currently, none of the 12 ticketing machines in the new station, which cost over £350 million to build, sell tickets for the Dublin train, or trains to any stations across the border. In the case of the Dublin train, which is jointly operated by Translink and Irish Rail, this has resulted in long queues forming at the ticket desk, which is usually operated by one to two people. The desk is located at the opposite end of the new station to the platforms. Once people get to the platforms, their tickets do not scan at the gates, meaning that they have to be scanned individually by an employee. Customers have complained that this process has led to them missing the train even when they arrive in good time. Justin McNulty, an SDLP MLA from South Armagh, told The Journal that in his view this system is 'partitionist' and 'two-tier approach to cross-border rail services'. 'Lots of people have contacted me because they've missed their trains, and their buses – it applies to bus tickets too – as a result of this baffling system,' he added. McNulty said that it isn't just a ticketing issue, but also a 'fairness' issue. 'We need to see simplified ticketing processes and unified fare structures across the island,' he added. The Minister for Infrastructure in the Stormont Executive, Liz Kimmins, has explained that as main bus and rail cross border services operate under a capacity management system the purchase of adhoc tickets from machines 'is not possible'. Advertisement 'Regarding those who have purchased their ticket from Iarnród Éireann and are travelling through from Grand Central Station, these tickets require visual inspection at the gate line due to the variety of Iarnród Éireann ticket types which cannot be validated electronically,' she said. Another issue that is causing those who regularly travel up and down the country ire is that a return from Belfast to Dublin is more expensive than a return from Dublin to Belfast. Kimmins said that this is because Translink and Irish Rail are subsidised in different ways. 'In April 2022 the Irish Government reduced fares on all types of transport by 20%. My Department has been operating in a difficult financial environment for a number of years due to underfunding and austerity by the British Government. 'Consequently, a similar discount is not available for Enterprise tickets for journeys originating in the North,' she explained. McNulty told The Journal that he believes the price disparity is causing a fairness issue. 'People in Newry are expected to pay more than double the fare for a shorter journey to Belfast than those living just a few miles over the border in Dundalk. It just doesn't add up,' he said. McNulty added that in his view there needs to be cross-border engagement to address the issue. 'If we can put men and women on the moon, then we can align the ticketing services for rail and bus connections north and south of the border. 'It's putting workers and commuters up against the clock, and creating a bad experience for tourists who come here to experience the whole island,' he said. The Department of Transport in the Republic said it has not engaged with its counterpart in the north in relation to this issue. The Journal has asked the Department for Infrastructure in the North for comment, as well as Irish Rail and Translink. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
