Magee campus at the Ulster University in Derry
The Irish Government’s Shared Island Unit has committed to providing a funding package of €45 million that will allow the university to deliver the first in a six-building plan to enhance student numbers and the student experience in the city.
Said the Foyle MP: “This is a great day for Magee and the people of Derry.
“This significant investment from the Irish Government will be transformational, allowing us to grow student numbers in our city by providing additional courses and resources that will make Magee an even more attractive place to study.
“I’m extremely proud of the work the SDLP did with then Taoiseach Micheál Martin when developing the Shared Island Unit and this is another concrete example of how it has delivered for people in the North.
“I secured the commitment for 10,000 student places at Magee during the New Decade, New Approach negotiations and this investment brings us a significant step closer to reaching that minimum target.
“Growing Magee into a properly resourced university that serves the whole North West region has been one of the defining goals in my political career.
“It has the potential to deliver so much for our city, boosting our economy, attracting jobs and investment, allowing us to keep more of our young people and finally delivering on a key objective of the civil rights movement.
“Though this investment is hugely welcome, it cannot be the end of our plans to grow Magee.
“This must be the beginning of the work that finally sees the long-held vision to turn it into a major university on this island become a reality and the SDLP will keep working until we achieve that goal.”
