AQW 48872/22-27

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 17/06/2026
Answered On Date: 30/06/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail (i) whether any reductions in teaching grant or research funding, allocated to Northern Ireland’s universities, are intended to contribute, directly or indirectly, to the funding of the expansion of the Ulster University Magee campus; (ii) any additional funding that has been allocated for the Magee campus, within the current budget period; (iii) whether any existing higher education budgets have been reallocated to support the expansion of the Magee campus; and (iv) any assessment that has been made of the impact of such reallocations on other university campuses and student provision.

Answer:

In the absence of an agreed Executive Budget for 2026/27, Departments are working off contingency planning envelopes. Final allocations to Universities can only be made once an agreed budget is in place.