Derry City and Strabane District Council will write to Ulster University (UU) and the Economy Minister about the future expansion of Magee university, as over £9 million in PEACEPLUS is taken out of the district due to the cancelled Magee Sports Dome.

During September’s council meeting, SDLP councillor Lilian Barr put forward a motion, which noted UU’s decision not to proceed with construction of the dome will result in €10.86 million, or £9.4 million, of PEACEPLUS funding being returned to the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).

“Council recognises the strategic importance of continued investment in higher education to addressing regional imbalance and supporting the economic, social and educational development of Derry and the wider North West,” Councillor Barr’s motion added.

“Council therefore agrees to write to UU seeking clarification on its future plans for the proposed project/site; what alternative projects or investments are planned for the Derry-Magee campus and across the City and District; and confirmation that it remains fully committed to expansion of the campus and delivery of its projects and responsibilities within the Derry and Strabane City Deal.

“Council further agrees to write to the Minister for the Economy and Northern Ireland Executive seeking reaffirmation of their commitment to expanding Magee campus to 10,000 students by 2032, including a sustainable funding and delivery plan, and assurance that City Deal commitments remain protected.”

Sinn Féin Councillor Christopher Jackson supported the motion and said Magee expansion is the 'single biggest project that will have the greatest impact to the economy in the North West' and a strategic priority for his party at both a council and ministerial level.

“It's no coincidence that that political focus on expansion has led to record student numbers over recent years,” he added. “There's a whole lot more that needs to be done and I would hope that others within this chamber would continue their support.”

“The decision not to avail of the money from the SEUPB was disappointing [but] it wasn't surprising, because we have seen the university maybe take a step back from some of the commitments in the past, but we need to get them back on board.”

People Before Profit Councillor for the Foyleside District Electoral Area (DEA) Shaun Harkin said he was ‘excited about the Sports dome’ as it would have served students and the community, while attracting people to Derry.

“There's only one other sports dome on the island of Ireland, in Limerick, and so it was brilliant,” he said.

“At some of the meetings people were very cynical and said this is never going to happen, and lo and behold it's pulled, and I thought that the way that that happened was absolutely disgraceful by the Vice-Chancellor, who made a unilateral decision just to take this piece of infrastructure away.

“So the proposals within the motion I fully support. I think that we should get clarity from the Minister that the commitments that have been made to expand at Magee to 10,000 as a minimum will be followed through on.”