‘Dept. of Health must now sign off Medical School’ - Derry Chamber welcomes City Deal match funding

In response to the announcement of match funding for the City Deal and Inclusive Future fund, which has doubled the available funding to around £210m, Redmond McFadden, President of the city’s Chamber of Commerce said:

“We welcome news that match-funding has been agreed by the Executive for Derry’s City Deal. This match funding is necessary to help ensure that commitments within the City Deal are carried out and can transform the north west regional economy through the delivery of various projects, including the expansion of our university.

“Chamber and other city partners have been engaging with Executive Ministers in recent days to press for this outcome.

“We now need to hear from the Executive on a Graduate Entry Medical School for the North West. That project alone will be transformative and with match funding guaranteed under the City Deal, the Department of Health must now sign off on a business case as soon as possible.”

Mr Redmond added: “Greater investment in education and skills, and gainful employment can forge new opportunities for Derry and the wider North West region to ensure we are an outward-looking and attractive place to live, work and do business.

“The hard work begins now. We face huge challenges with the present pandemic but it is important that we do not let that get in the way of making this City Deal deliver for everyone who lives here.”