Derry Daily
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Sport
  • Features
  • Courts
  • Business
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Jobs
Sunday 17°CMonday 16°C

Derry Daily Derry Daily Derry Daily

  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Sport
  • Features
  • Courts
  • Business
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Jobs
Derry CityEducationEnvironmentNewsPolitics

Eastwood: No mandate for Executive climbdown on Derry university places

written by cassoscoop September 9, 2024
ShareTweet

SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood has said that the Executive’s Programme for Government, published today, includes a shocking row back on the established commitment that Derry will have a minimum of 10,000 student places.

The document published by Sinn Féin First Minister Michelle O’Neill and DUP deputy First Minister Emma Pengelly contains a pledge to ‘expand the Magee Campus so that it can accommodate up to 10,000 students’.

The Foyle MP said that reframing the commitment, which he negotiated with the British Government, as a maximum rather than a minimum places an unacceptable cap on ambitions for the city.

Said Mr Eastwood: “It is genuinely outrageous that Ministers have actively and blatantly rowed back on the clear commitment to achieving a minimum of 10,000 student places in Derry.

“The overdue and overhyped Programme for Government instead seeks to ‘accommodate up to 10,000 students’ – a commitment so devoid of ambition that the paltry number of student places we have right now could be considered to have met it.

“They have no mandate to downgrade the promise to people in Derry.

“Setting 10,000 students as a minimum requirement was about putting down a marker and creating a clear ambition for Derry as a hub for medical sciences, new skills and well paid jobs.

“Watering down the commitment that I secured from the British Government is a terrible political decision by an Executive that has deprioritised Derry.

“This document is called ‘Doing what matters most’ – which says it all about how little Derry matters to them.

“We need political leaders to champion this city and the potential we have – that’s why I’ll continue to make the case for sustained investment and 10,000 student places here at an absolute minimum to allow us to achieve our potential.”

Eastwood: No mandate for Executive climbdown on Derry university places was last modified: September 9th, 2024 by cassoscoop

Tags:
colum eastwoodDerry CityDUP deputy First Minister Emma PengellyEastwood: No mandate for Executive climbdown on Derry university placesExecutive’s Programme for GovernmentFoyle MPSDLP LEADERSinn Féin First Minister Michelle O’Neill
ShareTweet
cassoscoop

LEAVE A COMMENT

You may also like

Drink-driver charged to court over Derry collision

12 hours ago

Funeral of mother and daughter killed in...

16 hours ago

Man arrested over Class C drugs seizure...

17 hours ago

Boyce hat-trick sends Derry City into seventh...

21 hours ago

Dance company loses appeal over 100% annual...

22 hours ago

Unmissable music events coming to the Abbey...

2 days ago

Derry priest faces seven more child sex...

2 days ago

New leaflet to help older people beat...

2 days ago

Man charged with possessing indecent images of...

2 days ago

Loving mother and daughter killed in Donegal...

2 days ago

Keep in touch

Facebook Twitter Email

Features

  • Sun, sea, spectacular views, historical charm and fabulous food. Tunisia of course

    April 5, 2024
  • Magical trip to see Santa from Belfast

    December 20, 2023
  • DD Travel Feature: Cork’s amazing The Montenotte Hotel

    April 18, 2023
  • Derry cancer survivor Noeleen McMorris reveals importance of awareness

    July 25, 2022
  • Competition! Win tickets to Northern Ireland v England Women’s Euro 2022 match

    June 17, 2022

Courts

  • Drink-driver charged to court over Derry collision

    July 5, 2025
  • Derry priest faces seven more child sex charges

    July 4, 2025
  • Man charged with possessing indecent images of children

    July 4, 2025
  • Two men in court after £1.2m cannabis find near border

    July 3, 2025
  • Two charged over huge cannabis haul seized in North West

    July 3, 2025

Donegal Daily

    Read More

    • News
    • Sport
    • Courts
    • Jobs
    • Features
    • Business
    • Politics

    Information

    • Contact Us
    • About
    • Advertise WIth Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions
    Derry Daily

    © 2025 Derry Daily. All rights reserved.


    Back To Top

    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkPrivacy policy