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Taskforce chair given 'reassurances' over Magee expansion

PA/UU Stephen Kelly pictured in a tie and suit standing at the Ulster University campus in Londonderry.PA/UU
Chair of the Magee taskforce, Stephen Kelly says he was "unsettled" upon hearing of Mr Murphy's decision to contest the upcoming Irish Seanad election

The chair of the Magee taskforce has said he has been given a "personal reassurance" by the Economy Minister Conor Murphy that any potential successor will remain committed to increasing student numbers at Ulster University's Londonderry campus.

Murphy is to contest the upcoming Irish Seanad (Irish parliament's upper chamber) election and will quit Stormont if elected.

Stephen Kelly said the news was "unsettling" but he was satisfied that any new economy minister would stand by the commitment to boost student numbers at Magee by 2032.

"His party will continue with that priority," Mr Kelly said.

PA Conor Murphy in a black suit with a white shirt and polka dot tie.PA
Conor Murphy will stand in the Seanad election in the Republic of Ireland

Murphy has described the move as a "natural progression of his politics" and said he looked forward to using his experience to shape the debate around Irish reunification.

He also denied the move was linked to a recent health scare when he suffered a mini-stroke.

"I feel fully fit and it is not related to that," he told BBC News NI.

The Magee taskforce was set up by Murphy last March to develop an action plan to expand the campus in Derry.

It is made up of members from the community and voluntary sectors and from government and local government.

The action plan, which was published in December, said boosting student numbers in Derry from 6,000 to 10,000 would help create more than 4,600 jobs across Northern Ireland, with more than half of those in the north west.

Key to that expansion was investment and addressing the lack of student accommodation.

UU The Martha Magee building at Magee campus in Londonderry. A number of trees and bushes can be seen in front of the historic building.UU
The expansion of the university in Londonderry has long been regarded as a catalyst for economic growth in the region

The 10,000 student target was included in Stormont's programme for government and in New Decade, New Approach (NDNA), which restored Northern Ireland's power-sharing executive in 2020.

It stated that the British and Irish governments would financially support the expansion target.

An interim report, published in September, said that about £700m was needed for new teaching blocks, research space and student accommodation to meet the 10,000 expansion target.

Last month, the university acquired five sites along Derry's riverfront, which will be used as part of the plan.

'Unsettling'

Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme ,Mr Kelly said he received a phone call from Murphy, before he announced that he was to stand in the Seanad election.

"Conor Murphy rang me and said, 'The party have asked me to stand for the Seanad and I just wanted to let you know before that news comes out'.

"Obviously, we have been working very closely together on the plans to extend Magee to 10,00 students so he wanted to make sure that I was reassured that, regardless if he is successful and moves on or not, that the commitment remains and his party will continue with that priority.

"It is unsettling, I will be honest," he said.

"I have told that to himself [Murphy] and to his colleagues but I have been greatly reassured that the commitments remain and if he is elected and if there is a need for a new minister, that minister will carry that work forward.

"Conor [Murphy] did give me a personal reassurance and has offered to reassure other members of the taskforce if required that this will continue to be the party policy."