AQW 49090/11-16

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 24/09/2015
Answered On Date: 16/10/2015
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Employment and Learning for his assessment of the geographical distance between Northern Regional College campuses; and the importance of this in targeting students evenly across the area.

Answer:

A copy of an Outline Business Case (OBC) was received from the Northern Regional College on 22 September 2015 and is being assessed by my Department. It sets out the College’s proposals for addressing its accommodation needs in the Coleraine/ Ballymoney and Ballymena areas.

The location and accessibility of both existing and proposed campuses will be taken into account in the OBC when arriving at a preferred solution. Following Departmental approval of the Business Case, approval will be required from the Department of Finance and Personnel before a formal announcement can be made.