Secretary of State Hilary Benn has described the redevelopment of Casement Park as important to people in Northern Ireland and to him, but said funding will have to be identified.
The derelict former GAA ground in west Belfast was earmarked as a venue for the Euros hosted by the UK and Ireland in 2028.
However, the British government announced last week that it would not help fund the project for the Euros because the risk of missing the tournament deadline was too high.
It was originally to be rebuilt as a GAA venue over a decade ago, but was delayed due to factors including legal challenges by local residents.
Speaking during a visit to Derry, Mr Benn said he met GAA president Jarlath Burns in recent days and understands the importance of Casement Park.
“We’re in a new situation now and I am determined, because I understand the importance of the project to the GAA, to the Executive, to the First Minister who put out a statement on Friday reaffirming her commitment to it, we need to work together to find a way forward,” he said.
“There are some obvious things we need to do while taking stock. The specification required for the Euros is no longer required because there were things that the Euros wanted that added to the cost.
“So we need to look at that. The design will have to be different from the one that was put together for the Euros and I am committed to finding a way forward, but we’re going to have pause and work out what actually is going to be built, what it will look like because the design will be different and secondly how the money can be identified to take it forward.
“But it is a really, really important project to so many people in Northern Ireland and it is to me.”
It comes as GAA President Jarlath Burns said the Association would be “very supportive” of Pairc Ui Chaoimh replacing Casement Park as a Euro 2028 venue.
Cork’s Pairc Ui Chaoimh, redeveloped and reopened in 2017, and with a capacity of around 45,000, is an obvious contender from the GAA’s perspective.
Burns said it will ultimately come down to UEFA, who may wish to simply distribute more games to venues already on the rota, but he said the GAA would happily provide Pairc Ui Chaoimh.
