Swann wants NRC pledge

NORTH Antrim Ulster Unionist MLA Robin Swann - Chairman of the Stormont Employment and Learning Committee - has called on the Employment and Learning Minister to “unreservedly guarantee” that funding will be made available to develop the various campuses of the Northern Regional College (NRC).

By The Newsroom

Published 5th May 2013, 09:57 BST

Mr Swann said the Department of Employment and Learning must use its capital, due to lack of NRC reserves, in this budget period to commence design, planning permission and procurement of Coleraine Campus, which will be £30 million in 2014/15.

“DEL must also bid for resources for NRC in next budget period. The DEL minister must ensure that capital works on the Ballymena campus will commence, subject to funding in 2014/15.

“While these are very welcome announcements and I hope the DEL minister will stick to his guarantees for the overall NRC, I asked the Minister to ensure that Ballymoney is not neglected in any of his further bids or plans.

“The various campuses of the NRC have played an exceptionally valuable role in developing and delivering further and higher education provision within North Antrim and this terrific community role must be supported,” said Mr Swann.

NRC