National stadium plans a step closer

Plans for a new sports stadium in Northern Ireland took a step closer today after Sports Minister, Angela Smith said such a project was "operationally viable".

The Minister was responding to a viability study by the Strategic Investment Board (SIB) that was commissioned in January to look into the possibility of such a venture.

In response to the study, the Minister said if that such a plan was fully supported by soccer, rugby and the GAA, and if an acceptable site could be found, then Government backing would be forthcoming.

She added: "Only if we find a site that everyone is comfortable with and all three sports commit to playing there, can we even consider constructing a stadium.

"There is a great deal of work still to be done if we are to find an agreed site and gain the necessary commitment from the three sports."

SIB member, Tony Whitehead said his agency would now look into the site issue and report by late autumn.

Mr Whitehead, who was a member of the team of consultants who rescued the Wembley Stadium bid, said the soccer, rugby and GAA authorities had all fully co-operated with the business planning exercise.

He also said that as the site appraisal stage gets underway there was still an opportunity for any proposal for a stadium site to be considered by the SIB.

(MB)