11 June 2025 

SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP has called on the Executive to up their funding to the Casement Park project.

She was speaking after the UK Government announced £50m in funding for the stadium in west Belfast.

Ms Hanna said the minimum required from the Executive was an inflationary rise in their original £62.5m commitment.

South Belfast and Mid Down MP Ms Hanna said:

“Today’s funding announcement is a significant step forward in delivering Casement Park. We now know where we stand and attention must immediately turn to finding the rest of the money to finally get Casement over the line.

“Casement has secured funding from both the UK and Irish Governments, the GAA have expressed a willingness to look at their contribution and the Executive must also revisit their offering. At the very least we need to see an inflationary increase in the original £62.5m allocated, reflecting the inflationary uplift they received over the period of inaction, and this would go a long way to meeting the funding requirements.

“Casement Park represents much more than just a sporting stadium. It will be a home for the GAA in the Ulster, a major sports and entertainment venue in the heart of west Belfast and it will bring economic opportunities to one of our most deprived areas. It has taken us far too long to get to this stage and there can be no further delay.

“The First Minister has promised that Casement Park will be built on her watch, she now needs to ensure the Executive follow suit with the funding needed to bring this saga to an end.”