The long-awaited redevelopment of Casement Park would be funded by more than £100 million under the draft Stormont budget, with an inflationary uplift based on the estimated rise in construction costs.
The proposed ringfenced funding between 2026 and 2030 for the new GAA stadium in west Belfast would amount to £101.5m
This would be out of a total Department for Communities earmarked funding of £769.9m in the same budget period.
Stormont committed £62.5m for the new Casement Park project in 2011.
It was reported that finance minister John O’Dowd noted an estimated inflationary cost of delay to the project at £50.9m in a September 2025 meeting with communities minister Gordon Lyons.
This estimated £40m inflationary uplift would bring the total pledged towards Casement through Stormont, the Irish and British governments, and the GAA itself to around £209m.
In the Ulster GAA’s 2026 Secretary’s Report, it states the organisation is hopeful “that an additional inflationary funding allocation can be secured which should bring the overall funding package for the project to circa £220m”.
Ongoing delays to the building of the new stadium, which will be the home of Antrim GAA and a major concert venue, meant it has missed out on being a host ground for Euro 2028 soccer matches.
The British government ended all hopes of the stadium being used in the Euros last September when it ruled out funding the project in time for the tournament.
Mr O’Dowd is putting his draft spending proposals out to public consultation until March 3.
“Any spending increase in one area will inevitably mean a reduction in another,” he said.
“I want everyone to get involved and have their say. If you believe additional funding should be allocated to a particular area, please share your ideas including suggestions where that funding should be reallocated from.”
However, the draft budget has been slammed as “deeply flawed” by the DUP, which said in a statement the proposals would “require significant changes if they are to command our support”.
Deputy First Minister Emma Little Pengelly said in November that Stormont “does not have £100 million sitting about” for Casement Park.
In a statement issued on Tuesday evening, the Ulster GAA welcomed the publication of the Draft Budget “and the proposed increase in funding for the re-development of Casement Park to take account of inflationary pressures given delays for the project to date”.
They added: “This represents a significant and positive step forward in a project that Ulster GAA, alongside many partners, has worked diligently on for a number of years to secure. Casement Park is an Executive flagship programme for government priority and a vital piece of sporting and community infrastructure, not only for Gaelic games but for the wider sporting and cultural life of the North.
“We acknowledge that the Draft Budget is now subject to public consultation and further consideration. However, we wish to place on record our thanks to the Minister of Finance and his officials for recognising the strategic importance of Casement Park and the need for inflationary support to enable the project to progress.
“The GAA will continue to work closely with the Department for Communities to move the project forward as the budgetary consultation process progresses.”