West Belfast MP Paul Maskey has led a Sinn Féin delegation to meet with Communities Minister Carál Ni Chuilin to discuss the Casement Park project today. 

This latest meeting comes two weeks after Mr Maskey joined Sinn Féin Ministers Michelle O’Neill, Declan Kearney and Connor Murphy in a meeting with Ulster GAA over the long delayed project.
 
Planning permission was previously granted for a 38,000 capacity Casement Park in 2013, but in 2014 approval was quashed in a High Court legal challenge brought by Mooreland & Owenvarragh Residents’ Assocation (MORA).

Revised plans with a reduced capacity of around 34,000 subsequently were submitted by Ulster GAA in February 2017.

A Deparment for Infrastructure spokesperson told the Andersonstown News this month that said: “Officials have substantively concluded their assessment of the application and they are presently considering a recently received objection to this complex application.”
 
Speaking after today’s meeting the West Belfast MP said: “Sinn Féin remain fully committed to ensuring West Belfast has a new state of the art Casement Park to showcase Gaelic games and for the use of the local community.

“The delivery of a redeveloped Casement Park remains a key priority for Sinn Féin.

“Today’s meeting with Communities Minister Carál Ni Chuilin was extremely positive and it was very welcome that the minister has reaffirmed her commitment to redevelopment of Casement Park.

Today’s meeting with Communities Minister Carál Ni Chuilin was extremely positive and it was very welcome that the minister has reaffirmed her commitment to redevelopment of Casement Park.

“Gaels in Belfast and Antrim have waited too long already for the project. They should not have to wait any longer.

“Casement Park remains the last piece of sports stadia project not to be delivered, we need to see movement on this immediately and this starts with the Minister for Infrastructure making a decision on the current planning permission."