Derry Sinn Fein Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Anderson to challenge Empey over magee

Published: 31 August, 2010

The Universities Minister will again be challenged to lift the cap on the number of students at Magee, Foyle Sinn Féin Martina Anderson has revealed.

The Assembly returns from recess on September 13 and Ms. Anderson has tabled a question to the Minister Reg Empey regarding his intentions over the planned expansion of the Derry university.

"Obviously we have been lobbying for several years now to have Magee expanded because a thriving university is vital to the economic regeneration and future prosperity of this city," Ms. Anderson commented.

"There has been some progress in terms of the university securing extra land on the Foyle site and developing a strategic development plan which is currently being considered by the Minister.

"I also welcome the focus which the U4D lobby group has brought to this issue and I believe there is now a consensus in this city that an ambitious expansion of Magee is something that we all want to see.

"A welcome first step would be the implementation of the University of Ulster's Magee development plan.

"In his latest correspondence to me the Minister said he was still considering this plan. But I will be firmly pressing him when the Assembly returns to now move this process forward by bidding for extra resources in order to lift the cap on the number of students at Magee.

"It is time we saw concrete progress on this issue. Magee is the only campus which the University of Ulster is committed to growing in terms of student numbers and it can become a central point of the city's regeneration if the Minister shows the political will to make it happen."