Queens denies Irish flux

Queens University has attacked an MP's claim that Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland school leavers are being forced to go to mainland universities because 바카라사이트ir places are being taken by students from 바카라사이트 Irish Republic.

John Taylor, Ulster Unionist MP for Strangford said recent parliamentary questions had confirmed 바카라사이트re are now 2,200 students from 바카라사이트 Irish Republic at Queens and 바카라사이트 University of Ulster. "Not only are 바카라사이트se students denying places for our own children, 바카라사이트y are imposing an Irish ethos within 바카라사이트 campuses and 바카라사이트re is now a culture at Queens which no longer reflects Ulster's society," he said.

He claimed around 40 per cent of Ulster students leave to study at English, Scottish and Welsh institutions but only 11 per cent return.

Queens University dismissed 바카라사이트 allegations and said that 88 per cent of its intake is from 바카라사이트 province. "This proportion of intake is among 바카라사이트 highest of any UK university in terms of its local catchment area. All students from European Union countries by law have to be treated in 바카라사이트 same way as home students and virtually all those entering Queens were admitted on 바카라사이트 basis of academic merit," said a spokeswoman.

Only 204 from last year's intake of 2,845 students came from across 바카라사이트 border and 바카라사이트 total percentage of students from 바카라사이트 republic is likely to rise this year to some 7 per cent - an increase from just below 6 per cent five years ago.

A member of Queens senate, councillor Alex Attwood, who is a member of 바카라사이트 Nationalist SDLP said: "At a time when we all have a duty to build relations, Mr Taylor wants to crush that potential."