Nelson McCausland, the Northern Ireland sports minister, has held discussions with representatives from three sports' national governing bodies (NGBs) over plans for a new regional stadium development.

Representatives from the Irish Football Association (IFA), the Ulster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) and the Ulster Branch of the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) met with McCausland in a bid to help move the stadium scheme forward. Earlier this year, plans for a new 39,000-seat multi-sports stadium development on the site of the former Maze Prison near Lisburn, County Antrim, which was also set to include a hotel, bars and restaurants, were scrapped by the Northern Ireland Executive.

McCausland said: "While I will be seeking significant Executive financial support for stadium development, I will also be looking to the governing bodies to make their own contribution. "Additionally, I will require evidence from the economic appraisals that the governing bodies will be able to finance the running costs of a fully operational stadium and provide for long-term maintenance requirements."