Fine Gael MEP and former GAA President Sean Kelly has said the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform should have "looked at" concerns about the redevelopment of Cork's Páirc Uí Chaoimh before committing to a massive spending plan for the stadium.
His comments came after news this morning that €30m in Government funds will be withheld. The redevelopment of the stadium is projected to cost €70m in total, with the GAA paying the remaining €40m.
The Department is reportedly concerned that a cost-benefit analysis prepared for the new 45,000 capacity ground wasn't "up to scratch". Officials concluded that projected attendance for events may have been "overly optimistic".
Sean Kelly has said he is still confident Páirc Uí Chaoimh will be redeveloped.
“This is only a temporary setback because the points made are I think, perhaps even overly finicky,” he told Newstalk Breakfast this morning.
“I think all the questions raised can be answered.”
Instead the MEP questioned why concerns were being raised at this late stage. The funding was announced by Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin in May 2014 during the local election campaign.
“It doesn’t reflect that well on the department themselves either,” Kelly said. “That should have been all looked at before the commitment was given.”