Further delay to Maze stadium plans

Plans for a £70 million national stadium at the Maze have been hit by another delay, it emerged today.

Plans for a £70 million national stadium at the Maze have been hit by another delay, it emerged today.

NI finance minister Peter Robinson was supposed to be handed a business case for the proposed multi-sports venue before Christmas.

However, just days before the Executive agrees its budget for the next three years, he still hasn't seen one.

Sports minister Edwin Poots had pledged to present the cost implications of the development to Mr Robinson's department in December.

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The Executive is to set aside £70 million 'contingency funding' for the stadium when it outlines its final spending plan next week.

Yet it is still not known whether the new venue will be built at the former prison site, or in Belfast, or not at all, with the money instead spent on redeveloping existing stadia for soccer, rugby and gaelic games.

A spokeswoman for Mr Poots' Culture, Arts and Leisure department said the business plan was "still being considered" by DCAL officials.

She said it was not clear when that process would be completed.

PA