Dr. Stephen Farry:

Mr. Pat Doherty raised the issue of changing demographics. I am very conscious that there is pressure on places in the Republic as a consequence of the growing population. In contrast, we do not have the same demographic pressures in Northern Ireland. That would, at first glance, indicate there is a partial solution in terms of some of the excess demand in the South being met in the North. However, it should be borne in mind that we have our own challenge in terms of encouraging local students who would have opted historically to study in Great Britain to instead remain in Northern Ireland. While our third level participation rate, at 50%, is very high, some two thirds of that number are accounted for by people studying in Britain and only one third in our local institutions. In other words, our higher education footprint is actually quite small relative to its potential. In that context, we are looking to see how we can scale up our presence overall. By 2015, for instance, we intend to provide at least 1,200 additional places, possibly more, in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics, STEM, area. Ultimately this is about facilitating the free movement of students, and encouraging greater participation by students from the South might well be part of it.

Equally, I would encourage the Southern jurisdiction to examine how it can expand its own provision. It is something that needs to be addressed, but it is not for me to comment too much on particular decisions that are taken.

It was striking that in the context of these different networks that were being put together by universities, the ones approved were located in the south and the east of the island. Again, the one relating County Donegal was not seen as really meeting the aspirations of the policy that was being set. There is a very particular problem that exists in the context of what is happening in the northwest. While there are challenges to be faced across the island in terms of developing collaboration, we have a very acute issue not just around the Border in general but in the northwest in particular. That is something to which we must attend and which the colleagues of Mr. Pat Doherty, MP, are not shy about discussing. We must pay particular attention to expanding the Magee campus. I will just get that one out of the way.