MEP raises concerns about Stranmillis merger
03 October 2008
Traditional Unionist MEP Jim Allister has raised concerns about the proposed merger of
In a statement Jim Allister said:-
“I have been in correspondence with Sir Reg Empey as DEL Minister on the future of Stranmillis College because I am not convinced this proposed merger is in the best interests of Stranmillis and because though it is supposed to only be a proposal in principle to merge, the College authorities are pushing ahead as if it is a done deal.
While both St Mary's College and Stranmillis have suffered falling enrolment, the fact that only Stranmillis has been targeted for merger with Queen's University causes me to wonder why? If it is possible to contemplate alternative plans to secure the independent future of St Mary's, why is Stranmillis being treated differently?
In looking at the future of Stranmillis, what consideration was given to co-operation or linkage with
One of my major concerns is that the valued and distinctive ethos of Stranmillis will be lost, though the Minister has said he has recently stressed the importance of this aspect to the senior management at both Stranmillis and QUB. There has been a move afoot to change the ethos of Stranmillis for some time, with the removal of the 3 transferor representatives from the Board in 2005. Now, it seems to me the process is to be completed by merger into Queen’s.
Even though legislation through the Assembly, if it survives, will be required to perfect the merger, the aggressive actions of the Project Steering Group and the Project Implementation Group show matters are proceeding presumptively. Why is this? Having raised this with the Minister he has advised me he has told these groups that they proceed at the risk that the merger may not proceed. It is clear to me they are in the business of presenting a fait accompli.
Then, there is the important matter of the costs of merger and whether such has been fully and accurately costed. The Minister confirms a fully costed business case and economic appraisal will be required, but there presently is no indication of such costs. Yet, the College and University authorities are behaving as if everything was a done deal. I think they’d be better employed in delivering fully and accurate costings before getting ahead of themselves.”
