SDLP Newry & Armagh MLA Justin McNulty has said the Executive should allocate additional funding to the Casement Park project.

He was speaking after the SDLP raised the issue with the Finance and Communities Ministers in the Assembly on Monday.

Newry & Armagh MLA Mr McNulty said:

“It is clear that if we are ever going to get movement on Casement Park then the Executive and the UK Government will have to increase their funding for the project to get it over the line. I raised this directly with the Finance Minister today after the Executive received additional funding from the UK Government this week, but her response was non-committal, while the Communities Minister blamed budget pressures.

“We are all well aware of the financial challenges facing the Executive, but Ministers cannot deny they have been provided with additional funding from the Budget last week and political decisions will need to be made around how that budget is spent. Our main focus must be on rebuilding our decimated public services, but the redevelopment of Casement is long overdue and Ministers must explore every avenue to drive this forward.

“There is still bitter disappointment at missing out on the Euros, but we must now put all of our energy into delivering a fit for purpose home for the GAA in Antrim. The failed Euros bid cannot be an excuse to let Casement once again fall by the wayside and we will continue working with the GAA and all interested parties to get this stadium built.”