Bell says it’s unlikelyOne Plan target of1,000 will be met

Junior OFMDFM Minister Jonathan Bell says the One Plan target of securing an additional 1,000 places at Magee by 2015 is unlikely to be achieved and the next expansion if it’s proven economically viable will take place between 2016 and 2020.
By Kevin Mullan
Published 28th Sep 2014, 10:00 BST

Speaking at the Assembly on Monday he said he didn’t believe Employment and Learning Minister Dr Stephen Farry had the money to fund more than the 652 additional undergraduate places.

SDLP MLA Colum Eastwood put it to the Minister: “Given that one of the key catalytic projects within the One Plan was the expansion of Magee, will the Minister or First Minister give their commitment to seeing that happen by 2020?”

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He replied: “The One Plan had an additional target of having 1,000 additional undergraduate places by 2015. The Minister for Employment and Learning has been able to increase the number of undergraduate places in the two universities by 1,210.

“The University of Ulster has received 652, and those have been deployed at Magee. Any expansion of undergraduate numbers beyond what has already been achieved would require additional recurring funding that, I understand, the Department for Employment and Learning currently does not have.

“An economic appraisal for the expansion of Magee is being prepared by the Londonderry Strategy Board. The Employment and Learning Minister proposes, if the appraisal makes the case that expansion is in the best interests of Northern Ireland and the city, to submit a bid in the next comprehensive spending review.”

Related topics:Colum EastwoodStephen FarryFirst Minister