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Return to campus on the cards for third level students (stock image)

Aim to have students and staff back on campus this year

Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris has said he expects students and staff to be back on campus for the new academic year and will bring a plan to Cabinet shortly on what the guidelines will be.

Education • 03 Jun 21

Minister Simon Harris, Dr Helen McBreen, Partner at Atlantic Bridge and Dr Patrick Prendergast, Provost of Trinity College Dublin

€80m University Bridge Fund II launched

A new €80m fund that will be used to invest in companies that have grown out of research conducted in Irish third level institutions has been launched.

Business • 12 May 21

The new funding will allow for a significant expansion in electrical, plumbing and carpentry apprenticeship places

€20m in funding to expand apprenticeship provision

€20m in capital funding is being rolled out to respond to the growing demand for apprenticeships.

Business • 26 Mar 21

Minister Simon Harris said that science and research have been the forefront of the response to Covid-19 (Pic: RollingNews.ie)

€95 billion Horizon Europe programme launched

Horizon Europe, the European Union's new research and investment programme - the biggest programme ever undertaken in Europe - has been launched today.

Business • 25 Mar 21

Simon Harris (R) has given a statement to gardaí on the sharing of a GP contract by Tánaiste Leo Varadkar

Varadkar offers to meet gardaí over GP contract

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has said he has contacted gardaí through his solicitors following a complaint made against him for the leaking of a document relating to a GP contract.

Politics • 14 Feb 21

The Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris

New resource for those wishing to upskill or retrain

The Government has launched a new online "one stop shop" for people seeking to retrain or acquire new skills, including options that allow unemployed people to retain their social welfare benefits while undertaking courses.

Business • 18 Jan 21

Tyndall National Institute is one of the most successful institutes in Ireland for European funding

Tyndall National Institute wins 100th Horizon award

Cork's Tyndall National Institute has succeeded in securing more than €56m in funding as it reaches the milestone of its 100th Horizon 2020 award.

Business • 12 Nov 20

The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris (Photo: RollingNews.ie)

Skills Connect to retrain people who have lost jobs

A new initiative is being launched today aimed at retraining individuals who have lost their jobs as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Business • 07 Oct 20

The Minister said the new regulations in terms of the number of people that can gather indoors 'will not apply' to the numbers in a third-level lecture hall

Harris hoping to focus on reducing third-level fees

The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has said he is committed to working to reduce third-level fees.

Education • 31 Aug 20

A €160 million funding package has been approved

Funding approved for third level online learning

Up to 10,000 third level students are to get financial support to buy laptops, tablets and other tools for online learning, following a decision by the Cabinet last night.

Education • 22 Jul 20

Dr Tony Holohan said the Irish improvement is one of the most pronounced in the EU

Three more deaths from Covid-19, 11 additional cases

Three more people have died from Covid-19 in Ireland bringing the overall death toll to 1,730.

Coronavirus • 26 Jun 20

Simon Harris said people must not think the battle is over

Ireland needs to 'finish the job' in Covid-19 battle

Minister for Health Simon Harris has said the ability to start re-opening the country depends on how every individual behaves over the next ten days.

Coronavirus • 08 May 20

Paul Reid said there are a total of 27 labs doing testing for the Health Service Executive (File image)

HSE says 'zero backlog' in Covid-19 testing

The backlog of testing for Covid-19 has been eliminated, according to the Health Service Executive.

Coronavirus • 19 Apr 20

41 more Covid-19 deaths and 778 new cases

The Department of Health has confirmed that 41 more people have died from Covid-19 in Ireland, bringing the overall death toll to 571.

Coronavirus • 18 Apr 20

Children are the reporters and ask Minister Simon Harris all the questions that are important to them

Minister answers children's questions on Covid-19

Many children have questions about what is happening, so RTÉ news2day - RTÉ's new programme aimed at younger viewers - invited them to send in their questions for the Minister for Health, Simon Harris, to answer.

Coronavirus • 27 Mar 20

Taoiseach said proposals on student nurses being paid during coronavirus crisis would be made shortly

Govt looking at student nurses being paid - Varadkar

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said the Government is examining the issue of student nurses working in hospitals during the Covid-19 emergency and not getting paid.

Coronavirus • 25 Mar 20

Simon Harris said the actions will support the progress that people have already made

Harris: Shutting shops a 'very difficult decision'

The Minister for Health has said the new restrictions announced today to curb the spread of Covid-19 will put hundreds of thousands of people out of their jobs.

Ireland • 24 Mar 20

The patient was being treated in hospital in the east of the country

First death of patient in Ireland with Covid-19

A woman with an underlying illness who contracted Covid-19 has died in the east of the country.

Coronavirus • 11 Mar 20

Simon Harris said he has been engaging with the AG and gardaí on the issue

Harris to discuss maternity hospital exclusion zones

Minister for Health Simon Harris has said he is committed to the implementation of exclusion zones outside of maternity hospitals and will be holding cross party meetings this month to discuss it.

Ireland • 01 Jan 20

Simon Harris said the pay proposals will give greater access to public beds for public patients

Govt 'fed up' of funding insurers' profits - Harris

Minister for Health Simon Harris has said new Government proposals on pay for hospital consultants aim to end the "bizarre practice of allowing private practice in public hospitals".

Ireland • 19 Dec 19

Simon Harris appearing before the Oireachtas Health Committee

Harris pledges extra beds to ease pressure on EDs

Extra beds are to be opened to help alleviate pressures on emergency departments, Minister for Health Simon Harris has promised.

Health • 11 Dec 19

The promotion posters for cash prizes for staff in St James's Hospital have been taken down

Discharge incentive promotion wording 'bit off': Harris

Minister for Health Simon Harris has said he thinks the wording of a promotion by St James's Hospital offering cash to staff to free up hospital beds was "a bit off".

Health • 04 Dec 19

Simon Harris said he believed the RCOG review of CervicalCheck slides was robust

RCOG team agrees to appear before Oireachtas committee

The team from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, which conducted the review of CervicalCheck slides, has agreed to appear before the Oireachtas Health Committee.

Health • 04 Dec 19

Simon Harris said that no medicine shortages currently affecting the Irish market are related to Brexit

Harris: 'No need' to order more medicine due to Brexit

Minister for Health Simon Harris has said there is no need for patients, pharmacists or hospitals to order extra quantities of medicines due to Brexit.

Brexit Countdown • 03 Oct 19

A spokesperson for the minister said that he would also write to other stakeholders in due course

Minister to hold meeting over consultant dispute

Minister for Health Simon Harris has written to the Irish Medical Organisation, inviting the IMO to meet his department, the Health Service Executive and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform next week.

Health • 01 Oct 19