Important point.
UU has repeatedly said the £85m it gets from City Deal will go to R&D and NOT expanding student numbers.
Is the minister unaware of this, or is he now telling UU this money must go on actual expansion?
It’s why Dublin must insist on a Scrutiny Committee.

Absolutely not how it happened, Stephen.
At the very outset, UU publicly stated THEY did not want the taskforce engaging with DUG.
As chair, your duty was to step in and make it clear, equally publicly, that they did not speak for you or the taskforce.
You did not do this.

Belfast needs this as much as Derry.

The capital is overheating to the point that they can’t build new tower blocks for students as the sewerage system won’t support them.

Had an independent oversight commission already been in place, Belfast wouldn’t retain 83% of NI students.

The West is awake and demanding an independent scrutiny body to oversee the North’s university sector.
Ulster University claim they can police themselves - and that it’s not their fault 83% of NI students are corralled in Belfast.
Royal Irish Academy, and now Derry Strabane Cncl, say enough is enough!

Míle buíochas do Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin as an phóstaer mór iontach seo, atá anois in airde ar an bhall ag Cló Cholmcille (@ColmcillePress), a fuair mé ag an ócáid 'Gaeilge don Gaza' Dé Sathairn.
Ócáid thar cionn a bhI ann - tacaíocht an-mhaith, ar chúis an-tábhatach.

Here we have the judge's decision.

Having waited 2 years UU has only now provided some of what I was looking for with a 'contempt of court' threat hanging over it.

Independent oversight of NI's higher education system is desperately needed, as per Royal Irish Academy recommendations.

Derry University Group Garrett Hargan Belfast Telegraph Conor Murphy I knew that this was Garrett Hargan even before I opened the story. Well done Garrett. Keep fighting

A separate case has been won against the Finance Department at Stormont.

It too is hiding information.
Because I exposed the Economy Department's 'anti-Derry attack sheet' it's all being hidden away. 10/

I therefore had to challenge the ICO and UU together. And won thankfully.

In hiding/attempting to conceal information, Ulster University is making a strong case for INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT of higher education in the north, as recommended by the Royal Irish Academy. 5/

Brilliant persistence from Garrett Hargan and Belfast Telegraph.
This is precisely why there must be full - and rigorous - oversight of universities in the North.
Time to move this to the top of your in-tray Conor Murphy.

JUDGE ORDERS ULSTER UNIVERSITY TO RELEASE INFORMATION

This comes after a two-year battle for information in which I had to take on Ulster University and the Information Commissioner's Office.

A 🧵 on this case and the ongoing Derry university scandal 1/
belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/courts/ju…

Coleraine should get behind the new North West University, says Royal Irish Academy's Gerry McKenna.
colerainechronicle.co.uk/news/2024/05/3…

Centre for Cross Border Studies Patrick O'Donovan Ulster University Atlantic Technological University North West Regional College Donegal ETB Minister comes from Limerick - an Irish City of similar size and challenges to Derry.

But Limerick is thriving - the difference - it’s 30k Student University Campus!

How many more workshops, discussions, task forces does Derry require before we *grasp the nettle* and Deliver!

John Doyle Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) Derry & North West of Ireland is crying out for *Intervention*

With 83% of University Students corralled into Belfast with 95% of Higher education Funding.

Derry (similar to Limerick) requires a 20k to 25k Student University as highlighted by Royal Irish Academy #RegionalBalance #Derry

In the middle of a piece of research on actual FDI decisions - to get beyond the statistics - & explore NI's relatively weak performance, compared to the Republic. Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) research is clear a 1% increase in the overall number of graduates, boosts productivity by 1%