Minister 'fully committed' to university expansion plans

Northern Ireland's economy minister "remains fully committed" to Ulster University's expansion in Londonderry despite questions being raised over how further increasing student numbers will be funded.

On Tuesday, Ian Snowden, the senior official at the Department for the Economy, said the extra money needed could only come from the Executive deciding to allocate the money from elsewhere or by increasing student fees.

The campus, formerly known as Magee, has around 6,500 students with a target to reach 10,000 by 2032.

The Department for the Economy (DfE) said the campus is a "top priority" for minister Caoimhe Archibald.

Snowden told Stormont's economy committee that to grow Derry and another UU campus at Coleraine would take an extra £40m a year.

He said that money could only come from the Executive deciding to allocate the money from elsewhere or by increasing student fees.

In a statement to BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme, DfE said Archibald has ruled out an increase in student fees beyond the rate of inflation.

"The minister's priority will be to work with Executive colleagues to identify solutions that support growth at Magee without placing additional burdens on students," the department said.

It said Snowden's comments were made in response to a question asked about the department's budget pressures.

The minister, DfE added, "remains fully committed to the target" of increasing student numbers in Derry to 10,000.

"Student numbers at Magee have already increased by 22% since the Executive was restored," the department said.

The expansion of the campus in Derry is seen by many in the north west as a key economic driver for the region.

A 10,000 student target was included in New Decade, New Approach (NDNA), external, which restored Northern Ireland's executive in 2020.

A commitment to expand the campus "to accommodate" 10,000 student numbers was also included last year in Stormont's programme of government.

In 2024, a taskforce was established to develop and oversee an action plan to expand the campus in Derry.

Its chair, Stephen Kelly, who will make a presentation to the economy committee later on Wednesday, told BBC Radio Foyle as the department's chief financial officer, Snowden has a responsibility to raise his concerns over the department's finances.

"But it is for the minister to decide where investment goes," he said.

"The minister is in the United States at the moment and I understand when she is back next week she will start to make the decisions about where her budget is being spent."