Ex-Coleraine mayor Maurice Bradley wants town to benefit from Derry Medical School project at Magee College

East Derry MLA Maurice Bradley, has also sought assurance that no money will be spent on the Ulster University expansion project until a sound business case is completed.

“It is important to remember that Magee is a campus of Ulster University, and I ask that its sister campus at Coleraine be included as the project is vital to the regeneration of the whole north-west region, including Coleraine and Limavady.

“In collaboration, we can achieve much more than we can in isolation,” he said.

Mr. Murphy replied: “I congratulate the Member for getting his constituency interest in. The business case is for a graduate entry medical school at Magee.

“I have no doubt that any investment in the North West, including in Coleraine, benefits the entire North West.

“There is a commitment from the Executive, which is matched by a commitment from the British Government, and the Irish Government have indicated that they also support the development of Magee.

“We want to see that. I have no doubt that a successful business case and a successful development and expansion of Magee will be of benefit to the much broader North West region, including Coleraine.”

The development of a new Graduate Entry Medical School is, of course, integral to plans to expand Ulster University’s Magee College campus.

Campaigners believe Derry has waited far too long for a proper university and that John Lockwood’s recommendation 55 years ago that a second university for the North should be located in Coleraine was a serious misstep at best.

However, Mr. Bradley has said no money should be spent on the expansion of Magee College in the absence of a sound business case.

He asked the Finance Minister Conor Murphy if, “in light of his support for, and recent comments concerning, the Derry and Strabane City Deal, what assurances he can give that any money spent on a new medical school will be based on a business case?”

Mr. Murphy replied: “The ‘New Decade, New Approach’ document identified support for city deal packages and for the expansion of Magee, including a graduate entry medical school, as priorities for an incoming Executive.

“Of course, all expenditure requires approval, which usually takes the form of a business case.”

The Finance Minister said a business case was now being developed by the university and would be considered in due course.

“Ulster University is developing a business case for the medical school at Magee. On completion, the business case must be formally submitted to a Department for expenditure appraisal. It is for the responsible accounting officer to provide the necessary assurances to the Department of Finance, usually through the business case process, that the project represents value for money, is affordable and meets the requirements in respect of propriety and regularity.”