Magee Campus in Derry will have Coronavirus test centre from today
The New Decade, New Approach deal to restore Stormont in January stated that the Executive would bring forward proposals for the expansion of Magee to 10,000 students.
A motion to Council in February welcomed this commitment and called on the Executive to liaise with Ulster University and the Irish and British governments to deliver expansion plans.
Council subsequently wrote to the first ministers requesting “consideration in this important matter”.
Addressing last week’s Full Council meeting, the Ballyarnett representative said: ““We had written to the first ministers in March and no response was received.
“We had written to the first ministers again in June and again no response was received.
“Here we are now seven months on and there’s still no response.
“I genuinely cannot believe this.
“I cannot believe that we have written the first ministers about their responsibilities regarding the expansion of Magee and seven months later they have failed to respond.”
Councillor Farrell continued: “It’s not as if this is some sort of insignificant or irrelevant matter. It’s about Magee expansion, which is probably the most critical project in this city.
“And Arlene Foster and Michelle O’Neill have chosen to ignore that correspondence.
“I propose that we write again to the first ministers requesting urgent engagement with this council to update us on their plans and proposals for Magee expansion.
“I’m conscious that we’ve written twice already, and that we haven’t received any response.
“So, I would also ask the Sinn Féin and DUP members in this virtual chamber to use whatever influence they have with their respective first ministers to say please act on this correspondence, and please engage with our council.”
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