I don’t know how I could pay £8m a year for 1000 extra Magee students: Farry

He made the comments in response to an Assembly Question from the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader Jim Allister who asked for his assessment of the viability of expanding the University of Ulster’s Magee Campus.

Dr Farry replied: “Clearly an expansion at the Magee Campus would be viable if the University of Ulster could attract sufficient students who meet the entrance criteria and secure a sustainable funding stream to meet the infrastructural and teaching costs involved.

“Under the existing arrangements the costs which would fall to the public purse of an additional 1000 students at Magee would be in the region of £8m annually.

“It is not immediately apparent, however, how that level of additionally could be found within the resource envelope made available to me by the previous Executive and Assembly.”

Mr Allister also wanted to know whether an expansion would help achieve inclusivity and equality.

Dr Farry stated: “Regarding inclusivity and equality I am of the view that any investment in Higher Education will help promote those goals.

“We have a very good track record to date with participation rates among students from socio-economic backgrounds the highest in the UK and the development of a Widening Participation Strategy will seek to maintain that position.”