Major investment in Athlone further education sector announced

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, has announced a significant capital investment in Athlone. This key project in Athlone forms part of the first phase of projects to be advanced under the national Further Education and Training (FET) Strategic Infrastructure Upgrade Fund (SIUF). Speaking today, Minister Harris said, “Today … Read more

Minister Harris announces significant capital investment in Equestrian Centre in Kilkenny

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris has announced a significant capital investment in further education in Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny. Grennan College Equestrian Centre in Thomastown is a key project which forms part of the first phase of projects to be advanced under the national Further Education and Training (FET) … Read more

Minister Harris publishes options paper on reducing cost of education

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation, and Science Simon Harris has today published ‘Funding the Future: An annual options paper on reducing the cost of higher education. This paper is a non-exhaustive list of options to be considered in advance of Budget 2023 and is published without prejudice to eventual Government Budget decisions. Speaking today, … Read more

New national access plan to drive equality of access to higher education

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris has today launched the fourth National Access Plan – ‘A strategic action plan for equity of access, participation and success in higher education. The National Access Plan, which will cover the period from 2022- 2028, is a national priority and a key commitment in the … Read more

Minister appeals to homeowners to rent out rooms to students

Homeowners have been urged to help ease the student accommodation crisis by renting out a room and in turn benefit from a generous tax break.  The Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris has appealed to homeowners to consider renting rooms to students ahead of the start of the new academic year, in what … Read more

Govt announces €40m funding to make colleges greener and more accessible

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation, and Science Simon Harris has announced an extra €40 million for higher education institutions for the upcoming academic year. The funding is to be invested in universities and colleges across the country to make them greener and more accessible. The money is to be used to support … Read more

€65m fund launched to address climate and technology ‘challenges’

The Government has launched a €65 million research fund to help Ireland become climate neutral by 2050 and address the challenges of disruptive technologies. Minister Simon Harris announced a €65 million fund to drive solutions to the green transition and to digital transformation. The National Challenge Fund consists of eight challenges, three in digital transformation … Read more

Additional €2 million in financial support for underrepresented and disadvantaged students

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris has today announced financial support for students seeking to access higher education. The measures, which will support the achievement of goals in the upcoming National Access Plan, are in addition to the €3 million to enhance opportunities for students with intellectual disabilities and … Read more

Third-level institutions get €3m to support students with Autism or Intellectual Disability

Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris has announced new initiatives to support autistic students and those with an intellectual disability access to third-level education. The proposals, allocate ring-fenced funding of €3 million a year to 2025 so higher education institutions can implement universal design and inclusive practices on their campuses, and enhance opportunities … Read more

Government launches 10,697 places on 275 courses under Springboard+ 2022 to help people upskill in critical

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, and Minister of State for Skills and Further Education, Niall Collins, have launched 10,697 places on 275 courses, under Springboard+ (“Springboard Plus”) 2022. Springboard+ courses are from Level 6 (certificate) to Level 9 (masters) on the National Framework of Qualifications and are delivered … Read more

New research and innovation strategy can shape Ireland’s future: Minister Harris

Minister Simon Harris has launched  ‘Impact 2030: Ireland’s New Research and Innovation Strategy’. Impact 2030 aims to build a more inclusive and engaged research and innovation system in Ireland that can help mobilise resources to address major issues ranging from the climate crisis to health and wellbeing. Impact 2030 will maximise the impact of research and … Read more

Establishment of South East Technological University and its first president is welcomed by Minister Harris

Higher Education Minister Simon Harris has welcomed the establishment of the South East Technological University (SETU). From today, Waterford Institute of Technology and IT Carlow will be dissolved and a stand-alone university presence in the region will be created. Professor Veronica Campbell will become the first president of the new technological university (TU), subject to … Read more

Government of Ireland Education Scholarships awarded to 60 students from across the world

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, has awarded Government of Ireland International Education Scholarships to 60 students from across the world. The scholarship is awarded to high-calibre students from non-EU and non-EEA countries. It allows them to study in Ireland full-time for one year. Speaking today, Minister Harris said, … Read more