Shane Cassells (Meath West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In 2010, a HEA report on retention and drop-out rates cited prior educational attainment as having the greatest influence on successful progression. Some of the HEA's reports cited a drop-out figure of one in six. In particular, the HEA examined the drop-out rate among those who got third level places after attaining between 150 and 300 points but did not progress to their second years.

I wish to touch on two aspects of this issue - the number of people successfully completing educational programmes and the cost. For each student who leaves a third level course, there has been a major investment by taxpayers. Of people in third level courses, 48% have their registration fees paid by the State. Add to that tuition fees and maintenance costs and there is a significant State investment. A report shows that 7,000 students not progressing to their second years could cost the State between €50 million or €60 million per annum. According to an Irish Examinerreport, this committee would surely be hauling people from any other sector in, given the level of investment by the taxpayer and the large drop-out rate. What is the HEA's opinion on the question of people entering a particular sphere of higher or further education, including PLC courses, and significant amounts of money being invested to meet their needs when the system is under pressure and will require €600 million in additional revenue by 2021?