Mr. John Kelpie:

On a communications strategy, my colleague, Ms Joan Martin, alluded to the work taking place across the Border corridor. Ten councils are collaborating to produce information that we will share with the public and with whosoever will listen to promote a joined-up message about the implications for the Border corridor. We are meeting on 4 May to finalise that work. Specifically along the Border corridor, there are unique differences. As I outlined in my opening statement, we in the Derry city and Donegal area feel there is a unique integration that is slightly different from some other parts of the Border region. As Mr. Michael Gallagher said, we have produced this initial report which we are happy to share with all members and which has been our communication piece. On the morning of 24 June, both councils immediately came together, gathered all stakeholders together - the chambers of commerce and all the partners - and commenced this piece of work, the result of which is one voice for that north-west city region that has been communicated widely throughout that region. Regardless of whether one is having conversation with or seeking evidence from a member of a council on either side of the Border or a member of the chamber of commerce or the business community, we would hope that message is now clear and robust, particularly in terms of the potential mitigation we suggest is required. That is the hope piece that was referred to.

We have a plan in the north west for economic prosperity. We are well down the path in this regard, we have the roadmap and we know how many jobs we can create through the initiatives we have in place. Brexit is simply a risk in developing that and we have put that into some perspective. We require the mitigation to ameliorate that risk. On the positive piece that was mentioned, the atmosphere in the north west is extremely positive because we can see the strategic future ahead. We need to deal with this matter along the way, among a number of others. The resilience of the institutions and partnerships and the people of the north west will see us through this period with the support of both Governments and the European Union.

Specifically in respect of Magee, the college is part of Ulster University and currently has approximately 3,500 full-time students in Derry city. For some considerable time, more than 50 years, Derry has campaigned strongly for that campus to grow. There has been a major breakthrough in that in recent years, Ulster University itself has strategically committed to the growth of the Magee campus within the city to 10,000 full-time equivalent students. That number of students is still considerably less than most other equivalent cities across the island but that is now a joined-up key project for the city region and will potentially significantly address the issues of peripherality to which the Chairman alluded. That project is in jeopardy, both with the political situation in the North and with the potential diversion of activities to deal with Brexit issues where there would have been more of a focus on regional development and other important significant issues.