Magee taskforce to meet for third time with local reps and US special envoy Joe Kennedy to attend - video Dailymotion

Magee taskforce to meet for third time with local reps and US special envoy Joe Kennedy to attend

Transcript

00:00 I established the Independent Task Force in March under the leadership of Stephen Kelly

00:03 and Nicholas Skelly. The group has met twice, receiving presentations from Ulster University

00:07 as well as Derry City and Strabane District Council. Local business leaders also led a

00:12 task force discussion on the future skills needs in the north-west. The next task force meeting

00:17 takes place this Wednesday and will be attended by representatives of the local community as well

00:22 as the Special Envoy for Economic Affairs, Joe Kennedy. The expansion of the McGhee campus to

00:27 10,000 students was a commitment in New Decade, New Approach and is key to promoting regional

00:31 balance in line with my own economic plans. As Minister, I intend to see this commitment delivered.

00:36 Thank you for your answer thus far. Minister, could I ask what additional

00:42 funding has the Department allocated to McGhee for the expansion for 24/25?

00:52 A total funding package of £152 million has already been committed for the expansion of

00:57 McGhee. This includes previously announced funding of £38 million from the Shared Island Fund

01:02 for a new teaching block, city deals, an inclusive future fund as well as

01:06 investment from the university's own reserves. For the next financial year, the Department

01:12 includes up to £4.1 million resource and up to £14.7 million capital for McGhee expansion

01:18 activities. I call Sinead McLachlan. Thank you, Minister, for your answer so far.

01:23 The task force will bring a paper in September. The funds that are in place at the moment are

01:33 not taken into consideration. Perhaps recommendations are coming through from the

01:37 task force. Are you confident that you will have money to put towards that expansion?

01:45 We are currently engaging with the UU, and the task force will have an input on that

01:52 for a more detailed plan on the allocation of that funding. This will be made available

01:56 in the financial year to take forward opportunities to expand McGhee campus

01:59 by developing the infrastructure and increasing the student numbers.

02:04 The task force, as you rightly say, will come forward with a plan in September. It is very

02:07 much aware of the figures that we have been talking about. If it has a different approach,

02:11 I am very happy to listen to that and to try to secure the additional funding.

02:16 The task force will recognise, as I am sure all members of the committee will recognise,

02:20 the limitations on the funding that we had. Nonetheless, the commitment remains for the

02:24 expansion of McGhee. I see it as an Executive priority, and I see it as my duty to deliver on