Latest news with #JohnO'Dowd
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Abandoned 34,500-seater football stadium that had been tipped to host Euro 2028 matches lands £50m towards restoration
AN abandoned stadium that was set to host Euro 2028 matches has received a huge boost over its future. The 3 Casement Park has been left to rot for ten years Credit: AFP 3 There were plans to bring the stadium back to life for Euro 2028 Credit: AFP 3 Demolition work has begun at the site Credit: Sportsfile Belfast's But it has since been axed from Euro 2028 due to funding issues and Northern Ireland will no longer be a host nation. Despite that, redevelopment of Casement Park is still going ahead and the government have confirmed that they are making a £50million contribution to the project. But there is still a £90m shortfall as Stormont chiefs and the Gaelic Athletic Association can only find £120m of the £260m required. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL Northern Ireland's finance minister John O'Dowd welcomed the government's backing and encouraged everyone to "now work together" to get the stadium built. Incredible photos show the stands rotting and the pitch overgrown. The ground welcomed 31,000 supporters back in its pomp for hurling and Gaelic football matches. Most read in Football JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS The derelict site has received planning permission to be modernised and early demolition work has begun. But some have called for the proposed design to be axed to allow for a cheaper build to be made. Northern Ireland currently play their home games at the 18,500-seater Windsor Park. Uefa require all grounds for major tournaments to be able to hold 30,000 fans. The Irish FA have ruled out expanding Windsor Park. Euro 2028 Stadiums London: Wembley and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Birmingham: Villa Park Manchester: Etihad Stadium Liverpool: Everton's Bramley-Moore Dock Newcastle: St James' Park Cardiff: Millennium Stadium Dublin: Aviva Stadium Glasgow: Hampden Park
Irish Independent
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Kerry county senior hurling championship: Group by group analysis
With the County Senior Hurling Championship starting this weekend, John O'Dowd looks at the three groups and assesses the prospects of all nine teams in the race for the Neilus Flynn Cup Kerryman GROUP 1 – Ballyduff, Crotta O'Neills, St Brendan's This is an extremely tasty section and, while St Brendan's might be the underdogs of the three, they simply cannot be under-estimated, especially now with Pat O'Driscoll at the helm. Always capable of getting the best out of the teams at his disposal, the Ardfert side may spring a surprise along the way.
ITV News
11-06-2025
- Business
- ITV News
Additional funding will avoid public services cliff-edge in Northern Ireland, says John O'Dowd
Additional money for public services in Northern Ireland will avoid a potential funding 'cliff-edge', Stormont's Finance Minister John O'Dowd has said. Mr O'Dowd said he had reached an agreement with the Treasury over an additional £600 million to support public services in the region. He said it brought the total extra funding provided for the region to £1.3 billion. Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones said the Northern Ireland Executive will 'receive the largest real-term settlement since the 1998 Good Friday Agreement' following the Government's spending review. He added: 'The Executive will be receiving over 24% more per person than equivalent UK Government spending in the rest of the United Kingdom. 'That means the Executive will be receiving £19.3 billion per year on average between 2026-27 and 2028-29 with an average extra £1.2 billion through the Barnett formula per year, made up of £1 billion of day-to-day spending and £220 million of capital for that four-year period.' Mr Jones said there would also be additional funding of £137 million over three years to tackle paramilitarism and organised crime, £11 million over three years to fund community development projects, £310 million over four years for city and growth deals and £185 million over three years for public service transformation and £2 million for integrated education. Mr O'Dowd said agreement had been reached with the Treasury after months of negotiations. He said: 'It will deliver an additional £600 million of funding provided for vital public services here. 'This will enable the Executive to take a long-term strategic approach to public service delivery. 'It helps avoid the potential cliff-edge in public funding that could have occurred when the restoration financial package comes to an end and the resulting damage this would have done to frontline public services.' Mr O'Dowd said the Treasury had agreed to exclude £329 million of agriculture funding from the relative funding calculation for Northern Ireland. He said: 'Without this agreement the Executive would have received £600 million less in funding over the spending review period. 'The agreement we have reached with Treasury will see us funded above 124% excluding agriculture between 2026-27 and 2028-29. 'The inclusion of agriculture and non-Barnett funding increases this to 128%.' Mr O'Dowd added: 'Since taking up the role of Finance Minister I have consistently said I would do everything in my power to ensure our public services are fairly and properly funded. 'This agreement will see £600 million more for public services over the spending review period, providing additional investment in the services that we all rely on and delivers on my commitment to support workers, families and communities.' People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll said the spending review had failed to deliver for working people in Northern Ireland. He said: 'Once again, the British government has shown that its economic agenda is incapable of delivering for ordinary people.' Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know.
Powys County Times
11-06-2025
- Business
- Powys County Times
Additional funding will avoid public services cliff-edge, says O'Dowd
Additional money for public services in Northern Ireland will avoid a potential funding 'cliff-edge', Stormont's Finance Minister John O'Dowd has said. Mr O'Dowd said he had reached an agreement with the Treasury over an additional £600 million to support public services in the region. He said it brought the total extra funding provided for the region to £1.3 billion. Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones said the Northern Ireland Executive will 'receive the largest real-term settlement since the 1998 Good Friday Agreement' following the Government's spending review. He added: 'The Executive will be receiving over 24% more per person than equivalent UK Government spending in the rest of the United Kingdom. 'That means the Executive will be receiving £19.3 billion per year on average between 2026-27 and 2028-29 with an average extra £1.2 billion through the Barnett formula per year, made up of £1 billion of day-to-day spending and £220 million of capital for that four-year period.' Mr Jones said there would also be additional funding of £137 million over three years to tackle paramilitarism and organised crime, £11 million over three years to fund community development projects, £310 million over four years for city and growth deals and £185 million over three years for public service transformation and £2 million for integrated education. Mr O'Dowd said agreement had been reached with the Treasury after months of negotiations. He said: 'It will deliver an additional £600 million of funding provided for vital public services here. 'This will enable the Executive to take a long-term strategic approach to public service delivery. 'It helps avoid the potential cliff-edge in public funding that could have occurred when the restoration financial package comes to an end and the resulting damage this would have done to frontline public services.' Mr O'Dowd said the Treasury had agreed to exclude £329 million of agriculture funding from the relative funding calculation for Northern Ireland. He said: 'Without this agreement the Executive would have received £600 million less in funding over the spending review period. 'The agreement we have reached with Treasury will see us funded above 124% excluding agriculture between 2026-27 and 2028-29. 'The inclusion of agriculture and non-Barnett funding increases this to 128%.' Mr O'Dowd added: 'Since taking up the role of Finance Minister I have consistently said I would do everything in my power to ensure our public services are fairly and properly funded. 'This agreement will see £600 million more for public services over the spending review period, providing additional investment in the services that we all rely on and delivers on my commitment to support workers, families and communities.' People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll said the spending review had failed to deliver for working people in Northern Ireland. He said: 'Once again, the British government has shown that its economic agenda is incapable of delivering for ordinary people.'
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Additional funding will avoid public services cliff-edge, says O'Dowd
Additional money for public services in Northern Ireland will avoid a potential funding 'cliff-edge', Stormont's Finance Minister John O'Dowd has said. Mr O'Dowd said he had reached an agreement with the Treasury over an additional £600 million to support public services in the region. He said it brought the total extra funding provided for the region to £1.3 billion. Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones said the Northern Ireland Executive will 'receive the largest real-term settlement since the 1998 Good Friday Agreement' following the Government's spending review. He added: 'The Executive will be receiving over 24% more per person than equivalent UK Government spending in the rest of the United Kingdom. 'That means the Executive will be receiving £19.3 billion per year on average between 2026-27 and 2028-29 with an average extra £1.2 billion through the Barnett formula per year, made up of £1 billion of day-to-day spending and £220 million of capital for that four-year period.' Mr Jones said there would also be additional funding of £137 million over three years to tackle paramilitarism and organised crime, £11 million over three years to fund community development projects, £310 million over four years for city and growth deals and £185 million over three years for public service transformation and £2 million for integrated education. Mr O'Dowd said agreement had been reached with the Treasury after months of negotiations. He said: 'It will deliver an additional £600 million of funding provided for vital public services here. 'This will enable the Executive to take a long-term strategic approach to public service delivery. 'It helps avoid the potential cliff-edge in public funding that could have occurred when the restoration financial package comes to an end and the resulting damage this would have done to frontline public services.' Mr O'Dowd said the Treasury had agreed to exclude £329 million of agriculture funding from the relative funding calculation for Northern Ireland. He said: 'Without this agreement the Executive would have received £600 million less in funding over the spending review period. 'The agreement we have reached with Treasury will see us funded above 124% excluding agriculture between 2026-27 and 2028-29. 'The inclusion of agriculture and non-Barnett funding increases this to 128%.' Mr O'Dowd added: 'Since taking up the role of Finance Minister I have consistently said I would do everything in my power to ensure our public services are fairly and properly funded. 'This agreement will see £600 million more for public services over the spending review period, providing additional investment in the services that we all rely on and delivers on my commitment to support workers, families and communities.' People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll said the spending review had failed to deliver for working people in Northern Ireland. He said: 'Once again, the British government has shown that its economic agenda is incapable of delivering for ordinary people.'
