SDLP Ballyarnett councillor Rory Farrell
Addressing last week’s meeting of Derry & Strabane Council, the Ballyarnett representative said: “I note the recent comments from the Joint First Minister Paul Givan where he said that Magee expansion was one of the legacies of City of Culture.
“I’m not sure which planet Paul Givan is on, but here on planet Earth we have witnessed a contraction at Magee, not expansion.
“Student numbers at Magee have reduced since 2013, so the expansion he waxes lyrical about is mythical. There is no expansion, there is no increase in student numbers.”
Cllr Farrell added: “Paul Givan is ignoring the reality on the ground, just like his party’s various economy ministers over the last 18 months have ignored their responsibilities when it comes to Magee expansion.
“New Decade, New Approach clearly states that the Executive will bring forward proposals for the expansion to 10,000 students at Magee and those proposals are nowhere to be seen, 686 days later.
“We have invited the Economy Minister Gordon Lyons to a special meeting of Council to discuss Magee expansion and regional targets for Invest NI – do we have a date in the diary yet?”
Council’s Chief Executive John Kelpie confirmed that the invitation was issued on October 26 and that no response had been received.
Tags: