Simon Harris visits Derry for first time as Taoiseach
The Fine Gael leader was in the city for a series of engagements with political, civic society and community leaders
Simon Harris has visited Derry for the first time since becoming Taoiseach.
The Fine Gael leader was in the city for a series of engagements with political, civic society and community leaders.
His first engagement in the city was a meeting at the Guildhall with the Mayor of Derry and Strabane, Cllr Lillian Seenoi-Barr.
Speaking to media on the city's historic Walls, Mr Harris said the north west region has 'so much potential', including the A5 project which the Irish government has pledged €600m.
The Taoiseach also highlighted the expansion of Ulster University's (UU) Derry campus. Last week it emerged that upwards of £700m would be needed to boost student numbers to 10,000.
Mr Harris said that it 'doesn't make sense' that many cities across the island of Ireland have smaller populations but larger student population than Derry.
He added that access to education is a 'civil rights issue'.
The Taoiseach said: "As I remember John Hume today, to his civil rights marches in the 1960s, talking about access to education is a civil rights issue. It was then and it is now.
"And I so ecstatic that we're seeing very significant progress on both sides of the border, in terms of providing opportunities for the next generation."
During the visit, the Taoiseach also visited the site of a new teaching and student services building being developed at the UU’s Derry campus through Shared Island funding.
While in the UU campus, Mr Harris delivered the annual John Hume and Thomas P O’Neill Chair Lecture.
Mr Harris announced €7.6 million from the Shared Island fund for an initiative to link the 2,600km Wild Atlantic Way that runs from Kinsale in Co. Cork to Donegal's Inishowen peninsula to the Causeway Coastal Route which runs from Derry to Belfast.
The Taoiseach said: “I am delighted to join with the CEOs of the three Tourism Agencies on the island this morning to highlight their positive collaboration, supported through our Shared Island Fund, to link the Wild Atlantic Way and Causeway Coastal Route brands.
This will undoubtedly create more opportunities for tourists from both home and abroad to experience all that Derry and the amazing North West and Northern coast regions have to offer, and I look forward to seeing the outputs of this impactful project.”