Belfast Telegraph

Expansion of Ulster University’s Magee campus to 10,000 students by 2032 “is the single biggest transformative economic project, not just for this city but for the entire North West,” argues Stephen Kelly, who is chair of the Magee task force as well as chief executive of Manufacturing NI. He was appointed by Sinn Fein’s former economy […]

A few days ago I was accosted at a conference in Derry by an unhappy woman. Her grievance was that expansion of Ulster University’s Magee campus is leading to an increase in what she termed a local ‘transient population’. This is connected to a significant increase of houses in multiple occupation, or HMOs, in nearby

New opinion polling has provided important evidence of how the North West’s population regards the cross-border regional economy. There is overwhelming support amongst those living on both sides of the border for closer integration between Co. Donegal with Derry and Tyrone. This is no surprise for those of us living close to the border, who

Hundreds of Derry’s residents walked, ran and cycled along the city’s beautiful riverside every day over the Christmas and new year period – sometimes in bitterly cold winter weather. This is an astonishing transformation from the time when I moved to Derry 26 years ago, when I was stunned to find almost no one took

City of Derry Airport is regarded by many in the city, including its civic leaders, as vital infrastructure. That view has been supported by the Northern Ireland Executive and the UK and Irish governments. It has, though, received strong criticisms, not least within the Belfast Telegraph – with some commentators arguing that the costs outweigh

The cross-border north-west region is the weakest both within Northern Ireland and across the island of Ireland. Statistics for unemployment, low wages and deprivation are similar in Donegal to those in the Derry and Strabane council area. The two areas also have too few school leavers going into higher and further education for the health

Relationships with bloc to remain uncertain as future government likely to be more antagonistic to Brussels and could pull out of agreement. The combination of Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump as globally powerful leaders has had a seismic impact on European politics. Suddenly security is a major concern across the continent — including for the

The bulk of public money is spent in greater Belfast area, leading to serious variations in economical and social outcomes. Surely the purpose of government is to improve the wellbeing of the population as a whole, not just a part. Investment is needed to produce returns that can be measured in economic, social or environmental

Beware schemes that offer apparently too good to be true savings. And beware, too, schemes that so lack transparency that the consumer may even feel unaware of having joined them.   A relative of mine recently contacted me to advise that she was being charged £18 a month for no obvious reason. When she looked

Carefully checking bank and credit card statements is essential – but easily overlooked. Doing so has saved me several hundred pounds over recent months. In February of this year I received my monthly statement from American Express. The total was a lot higher than usual and I was shocked to see a charge of £510

The economic inactivity rate in Northern Ireland is over 5% higher than in the UK as a whole – 26.6%, compared to 21.5%. The rates are highest – above 32% – in the Derry City/Strabane and Belfast council areas. There are various causes of economic inactivity – the long health waiting lists and higher rates

Derry and Donegal are like conjoined twins, bound together by economic, social and cultural links. Policy-makers seeking to improve the economy and quality of life in one must do so jointly with the other. Derry was, in effect, the capital city of the North West region before partition and it remains so today, despite the