DUP 'not reflecting scale of unionist opposition to Casement GAA stadium' says TUV
The TUV deputy leader has said that the DUP is not reflecting just how staunchly unionists are opposed to the idea of bankrolling the rebuilding of Casement Park.
Councillor Ron McDowell made the remarks after the DUP deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said the UK public budget is "incredibly tight" when it comes to the demand for more money for the GAA stadium.
Mr McDowell said her remarks do not go far enough, indicating that opposition to the project was stiffer among grassroots unionism.
The DUP responded by saying it “cannot see” how further “significant” public cash can be spent on the project.
The cost of rebuilding the derelict stadium has been variously rumoured to range from £200m to in excess of £300m – far beyond what was originally anticipated in 2011 – with the GAA only prepared to provide £15m of that.
The intention is to use the new stadium to host matches in the 2028 Euros football contest.
On Monday, First Minister Michelle O'Neill declared that "Plan A is still to deliver Casement as part of the Euros bid" and that its completion is "crucially important".
Meanwhile Ms Little-Pengelly said "there has to be that element of deliverability, of affordability and value for money".
“Make no mistake, our budget is incredibly tight," she said.
Councillor McDowell told the News Letter: "The Executive needs to realise that there is no desire for this project within football supporters in Northern Ireland and attempts to dress it up as the gateway to hosting Euro matches simply doesn't wash.
"It isn't enough for the deputy First Minister to cite budgetary issues.
"If she was speaking up for the Unionist community, she would be opposing the project.
"At the very least, the DUP Communities Minister [Gordon Lyons] should be requiring that some of the astronomical cost of this project is recouped to the public purse by way of a percentage of non-GAA events hosted at Casement going back to the taxpayer."
The DUP responded by saying: “There was the 2011 Executive agreement on stadia funding for football, rugby and the GAA. That still stands.
"There is a significant shortfall and we cannot see how significant additional UK taxpayer resources will be available at a time when other vital public services are in need of additional resource and capital allocations.”