Low Derry productivity down to decades of low investment, says Foyle SDLP MLA Sinead McLaughlin

She observed that “time spent in a traffic jam is not very productive”, and argued transport links needed to be improved to ease congestion.

The expansion of Magee College was another development that needed to happen, she said, otherwise skills gaps will continue to hold the local economy back.

“If we want to improve wages and business profits, we must raise productivity,” she said, speaking in the Assembly this week.

She acknowledged that economic productivity in Derry was exceptionally low.

“The accountancy firm PwC says that the Republic of Ireland is around 60 per cent more productive than NI.

“Ulster University says that Great Britain is around 25 per cent more productive than NI. If you drill right down into that, you will find that the area that includes Derry city and Strabane has the lowest productivity in the whole of NI,” she remarked.

She said it was “easy to understand why” this was the case.

“For decades, we have had some of the worst transport infrastructure both on this island and throughout the UK. We do not have the skills that we need. There has to be more investment in skills at graduate level by not only increasing the flow through substantial expansion of the Magee campus but investing in apprenticeships and ensuring that every child leaves school with the skills that they need for their life and career.”

Ms. McLaughlin said investment in public transport would ease gridlock across the North, including Derry.

“Investing in public transport is another part of the solution to low productivity. Time spent in a traffic jam is not very productive. I urge the Executive and the Assembly to make tough decisions and to get moving on the efficiency measures that are needed to free up funds for investing in skills, infrastructure and public transport.”