Economy Spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA has slammed Sinn Féin for fantasy politics on claims to abolish tuition fees without a credible plan following a social media video by the Sinn Fein economy minister who said that in an “ideal situation”, fees “would be abolished entirely” and she alone has kept “tuition fees low”.

Ulster Unionist Economy Spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA said,

"The Economy Minister’s claim that she alone has kept tuition fees low in Northern Ireland is simply not true. Fees here have remained lower than in Great Britain because of collective decisions taken by the consecutive Northern Ireland Executives over many years – not because of her.

"Under her watch and her Sinn Féin predecessor, tuition fees have actually continued to rise annually. Meanwhile, our universities and colleges are under immense pressure to invest in teaching, research, and innovation. Pretending that fees can simply be abolished without a credible plan is fantasy politics. Even in the Republic of Ireland, where Sinn Féin claims to draw inspiration, student contributions have increased because they recognise the need to fund world-class education.

If the Minister is serious about improving opportunities for young people, she should explain how she plans to pay for the long-promised expansion of Magee, a project that appears to have fallen off Sinn Féin’s priority list. Instead of empty slogans, we need a real debate about lifting the outdated Maximum Student Number (MaSN) cap. This restriction forces thousands of talented young people to study in Great Britain, where they face fees of over £9,000 a year, does she not care about these young people? Too many never return, contributing to a damaging brain drain that undermines our economy.”