To ask the Minister for the Economy how he is supporting and funding Ulster University to develop a veterinary school at the Coleraine campus.

Policy concerning the supply of locally trained graduates to support the veterinary profession is outside the remit of my Department.

As autonomous bodies, the universities have the discretion to offer any course, including veterinary subjects, from within the existing student number cap and funding allocations.

Ulster University has not recently asked for any support or funding from the Department regarding the development of a veterinary school at the Coleraine campus.

My Department is open to working in partnership with others to consider the implications of such an initiative should a relevant proposal be forthcoming.