3. Mr Brooks asked the Minister for Communities to outline what plans he has to invest in pitches for grassroots and community football, to meet the growing demand. (AQO 614/22-27)

The Northern Ireland football fund — formerly called the "subregional stadia programme" — will provide investment for football at all levels. I want to roll out the first funding awards as quickly as possible. However, it is important that the funding is disbursed in a fair and transparent manner. Therefore, my officials are finalising plans for my approval, and I plan to make further announcements later this year.

Clubs in my constituency are thankful for the work that the Minister is doing and his commitment in that area. With the growth of football, particularly the women's game and inclusive football, demand in East Belfast is certainly outstripping supply. Many clubs will be keen to speak to and engage with the Minister. Will he join me soon to visit Dundela Football Club and Shorts Football Club, in particular?

Yes, I am more than happy to meet the Member in his constituency. He has already had me down to visit a club or two, and I am happy to go again. He highlights an important issue — the lack of provision in East Belfast — but, unfortunately, the issue is not unique to East Belfast. It is very much the case in East Antrim as well. In fact, I know of many examples of young people who are being turned away from playing, simply because clubs do not have the pitch capacity that is required. It is important for me that performance clubs get the support that they need, but it is also important that we make a difference to grassroots provision. I say that because football has an impact on people's mental and physical health and well-being. Sport, and participation in sport, can go a long way to ensuring that we have happier and healthier citizens in Northern Ireland. There is clearly a need in East Belfast, as there will be in many other constituencies, and we stand ready to help. I look forward to accepting the Member's invitation.

The recent funding announcement is very welcome in my constituency of Newry and Armagh. The Minister mentioned East Antrim and East Belfast, but we have dire facilities. That is an issue that is raised regularly. We have some of the top teams in the North, such as Cleary Celtic Football Club, which won its third title in a row at the weekend, and some younger teams, such as Lisdrum Youth Football Club and Windmill Stars Football Club, coming through, which demonstrates an —

Does the Member have a question?

— exponential growth in grassroots football for young people. Will the Minister give a commitment to work closely with Newry, Mourne and Down District Council to upgrade facilities and provide facilities that the teams across my area not only desperately need but, more importantly, deserve?

First, I put it on record that I am sure that every constituency across Northern Ireland has fantastic football clubs that do fantastic work, and I am sure that they are all in need of resource. The Member mentions her constituency and makes an important point about the council. In many cases, councils have been essential partners in some of the development that we have seen take place so far. Under the Northern Ireland football fund, that will also be the case. It is important that councils work closely with the Department to deliver funding. It is worth making the point that, when it comes to applications to the fund, it is not about a pass or a fail. Rather, we want to work together with clubs to ensure that they get to the position that they need to get to so that they can avail themselves of the funding when it becomes available. I am absolutely committed to working in partnership with clubs and other important stakeholders, such as councils, to make sure that funding is delivered.

Will the Minister elaborate on the criteria that he will use to allocate further funding?

The criteria are still being finalised. I hope that the Member listened to the speech that I made at Windsor Park, although, unfortunately, it may have been overshadowed somewhat by an announcement that the Prime Minister made on the same day. We will be setting out a number of criteria against which clubs will be scored. Clubs will need to make a number of commitments. First, a monetary commitment will need to be made. We need to make sure that clubs are financially viable, because there is no point in building something that they are not able to maintain. They will also need to demonstrate how the facility is going to improve their community and how they will get more young people and women involved, and they will need to make sure that there is disability provision. Those are all factors that will be taken into consideration. Again, I emphasise the point that we want to work with clubs. We are not trying to catch anybody out. We are not trying to make sure that clubs cannot avail themselves of the fund. We will help them through the process so that they can indicate how their application will make a difference, how it will fulfil a need and how it will improve the community overall.

I hope that you were not as wet as the Prime Minister.

As the chairman of a local club, I welcome the Minister's announcement about investment in local football. At what stage are the business case projects for the funding that was announced on 2 October 2023? Funding seems to be being allocated to senior clubs.

That work is ongoing. We hope to provide additional funding to help those that want to progress their case. If there are specific clubs or issues that the Member has in mind, I will be more than happy to provide that information.

It is crunch time, it is do or die, it is high noon on proceeding with the Casement Park project so that it will be ready for Euro 2028. The redevelopment of Casement Park is a once-in-a-generation opportunity, and it must be seized. It is a huge opportunity for the North, a beacon of hope and reconciliation. What are you, your Department and your Executive colleagues doing to ensure that Casement Park will be delivered in time to host the Euro 2028 games?

First of all, it is important to note that Casement Park is separate from the Northern Ireland football fund. Those are two separate issues. They are not linked to each other. The Member may not be happy with what I am about to say, but it has not changed since the last time we discussed it in the Chamber. The Casement Park redevelopment, in its current form, does not have the funding package together. We do not have that commitment from the UK Government. That is what is holding up any progression on that issue. I expect to get further information on that when the new Government are in post.