The GAA is still hopeful Casement Park can be built in time for Euro 2028 after the Chancellor announced plans to axe infrastructure projects to fill a £22bn black hole in the UK’s finances.
Ulster GAA chief Brian McAvoy told BBC’s Evening Extra “there’s a bit more momentum now” around the plans.
He said: “Hopefully we can get the green light.
“It would be brilliant to have the Euros there in 2028, and that’s what we’ll aim for, but even if it doesn’t have the Euros, we will have a modern, state-of-the-art GAA stadium to bring us forward in the future.”
Brian McAvoy, Chief Executive of Ulster GAA
Secretary of State Hilary Benn said “absolutely nothing” was done for more than three years by the Conservative government in relation to Casement Park.
He told the BBC “there isn’t enough money in the pot”, and questioned whether it was physically possible to complete the project in time.
The Northern Ireland Office said: “As soon as we are in a position to make a decision regarding the redevelopment of the stadium for Euro 2028, we will.”
Yesterday Rachel Reeves announced cuts to infrastructure projects.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Ms Reeves said on day one she asked Treasury officials to assess the state of finances.
What they uncovered was worse than expected, she told MPs, saying Labour inherited a “projected overspend of £22bn”.
She said: “A £22bn hole in the public finances now. Not the future, but now — £22bn of spending this year that was covered up by the party opposite.
“If left unaddressed, it would mean a 25% increase in the budget deficit this year.”
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She pointed to a projected overspend on the asylum system, including the failed Rwanda plan, of more than £6.4bn.
Despite the parlous finances, Ms Reeves agreed to accept in full the recommendations of a review body on public sector pay.
But she announced a review of Tory plans to build 40 hospitals by 2030.
And speaking about “incredibly tough choices”, she said older people not in receipt of pension credit or means-tested benefits won’t receive the winter fuel payment this year.
She vowed the government “would not increase taxes on working people”.
East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson accused Labour of breaking pre-election promises and “setting out a path towards higher tax bills which will probably be announced in the autumn”.
He added: “While cutting the building of hospitals, this ideologically driven government is going to spend billions on fighting climate change overseas whilst giving up revenues from North Sea oil which it will now prevent firms from extracting.
“They have also indicated a willingness to spend hundreds of millions of pounds on a sports stadium when our vital public services are under enormous pressure.”