Officials have been ordered to "call in" the forthcoming planning application by the GAA for the redevelopment of Casement Park in west Belfast.

The application, when submitted, will be processed by the Department for Infrastructure and the final decision Infrastructure Minister Chris Hazzard will have the final decision. The application is understood to be imminent.

The new GAA stadium represents an investment of £62million as part of a £110million Executive funding package for the Regional Stadia Programme for football, rugby and Gaelic games and remains an Executive commitment.

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Minister Hazzard said: "This is a hugely important project, not only for the west Belfast community, but for the whole region. I am acutely aware that whist there are potentially many economic and tourism opportunities with this stadium development, as well as the boost for sport and the benefits associated with sport, there are also significant concerns in the surrounding community about the localised impact of the development.

"I can give an assurance that a final decision on this planning application will not be made until all socio-economic and environmental impacts, both positive and negative, associated with the proposed stadium have been fully assessed, including the implications for the living conditions of residents in the surrounding streets."

(CD/MH)