Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank Ms Gildernew. I am delighted to welcome Mr. Hannigan and Professor Ó Néill to this meeting. I thank them for their contributions and for keeping us up to date. I welcome the physical presence of my colleague, Mr. John Finucane. This is the first meeting he has attended in Dublin since the commencement of the new term. What has been presented to us today and the ongoing work is important for two reasons, particularly the development in respect of the Magee campus and the commitments made by the Irish and British Governments in New Decade, New Approach in terms of the capital investment. I commend what has been done in respect of the medical school and I look forward to seeing that develop and evolve.

We all agree that there is an absolute economic and social necessity for us to develop the Magee campus for Derry and Donegal but also because of the Connacht-Ulster alliance. As I am from County Mayo, I am excited by its potential because I look forward to students who attend the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, GMIT, campus in Mayo being able to do part of their modules in Mayo and part at the Magee campus. Collaboration is the way forward.

I thank Deputy Mac Lochlainn, who is from County Donegal, for allowing me, as a Mayo person, to contribute and I will leave him some time. My main question is for Professor Ó Néill and concerns capital investment in the Magee campus. Is the university working on a business case that will be presented to the Government? We welcome the shared island unit and the money that has been ring-fenced for its work. How do we make sure that happens and in a timely way?