DERRY’S half-century battle for an extended university campus at Magee has been hit again with the announcement that further expansion has been axed and university places could be CUT.
The minster for employment and learning Stephen Farry has said that further development would be delayed “for the indefinite future” due to the executive’s failure to reach agreement on budgets.
The minister claimed on Stephen Nolan’s programme on BBC Radio today that the department faced cuts of £34m.
“We are in a financial crisis through gross mismanagement that we should not be in,” Mr Farry said claiming the failure to reach agreement by the Executive was to blame.
It comes as Minister Danny Kenny claimed cutbacks could see street lights being turned off.
Derry MP Mark Durkan accused Mr Farry of “downright shabby politics”.
He said it was “absolutely wrong” to use the expansion of higher education to make a political point.
Sinn Féin MLA for Foyle Maeve McLaughlin said the expansion of Magee was crucial to the regeneration of the city.
“Stephen Farry is practising microphone diplomacy, announcing unilateral decisions on the airwaves and is playing politics with vital issues,” she said.
Planning permission was granted in July for an £11m extension to the Magee campus.
The plans included increased teaching facilities, a large lecture theatre, 20 classrooms and a cafe.
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