Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, deputy leader Michelle O’Neill MLA, and MP John Finucane met today in Belfast with Secretary of State, Hilary Benn MP.
Following the meeting, Ms McDonald said redevelopment of the west Belfast GAA stadium had been on the agenda.
It comes after thousands of gaelic games players and supporters marched to the derelict Casement Park stadium on Saturday to demand its redevelopment.
Following the noisy parade through west Belfast, a rally held adjacent to the crumbling ruins of the GAA ground heard calls for the Stormont Executive and Government to end the lengthy delays in rebuilding the sporting venue.
Plans for a 34,000-capacity venue remain in limbo due to a major funding gap of around £150m.
Casement Park currently lies derelict (David Young/PA).
A fly-through of the proposed Casement Park redevelopment for the 2028 Euros
Stormont ministers committed £62.5m to Casement in 2011, but redevelopment has been delayed for several years because of legal challenges by local residents.
With planning approval finally granted four years ago, the £270m project has since been held up over a dispute over funding.
In September, the UK Government ended hopes that the west Belfast venue would host Euro 2028 soccer games when it said it would not bridge the funding gap to deliver the reconstruction in time.
In addition to the £62.5m committed by Stormont, the Irish Government has offered roughly £42m.
The rally was held adjacent to the crumbling ruins of Casement Park (David Young/PA)
The GAA has pledged to contribute at least £15m — the same figure offered by the sporting body over a decade ago, despite soaring costs and inflation.
Ms McDonald said: “At the weekend, gaels took to the streets of Belfast, demonstrating strong support for the new GAA stadium.
“We are doing all we can to get construction underway, but clarity is needed on the British government’s financial contribution — beyond that of the Executive and the GAA.
“The Secretary of State informed us that a bid has been made to London and a decision is expected in June.
“Sinn Féin is fully committed to delivering Casement Park in the Executive. It is a necessary project, long overdue, and enjoys widespread public support across Ulster and the entire island. What we need now is swift, decisive action.”
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It’s understood the Government will make its announcement following this summer’s UK-wide Spending Review, which is expected on June 11.
However, Mr 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.