§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish in statistical form the staff-student ratios in Northern Ireland universities for the last five years, and whether additional capital funding will be made available to Northern Ireland universities to meet the need for additional residential accommodation and other physical resources, arising from increased student enrolments.
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§ Dr. MawhinneyThe aggregate figures for the two universities in Northern Ireland are:
Year Student/staff ratio 1985–86 11.9 1986–87 12.0 1987–88 13.0 1988–89 13.9 1989–90 14.2 Government funding of £5.5 million has recently been approved for a 3,000 sq m extension to the university of Ulster's Jordanstown campus. In addition, the Department of Education is considering a recommendation from the Universities Funding Council that the Department should provide grant aid for a further 1,700 sq m extension to the university's Magee campus.
No Government funding is at present being made available for additional residential accommodation.