Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Dr. Cullen said earlier that there is something of a renaissance going on with regard to apprenticeships, which I acknowledge. Dr. Patterson gave us figures showing the increased number of students and courses offered, which is impressive and encouraging. I might be nit-picking here but she said the number of people dropping out increased from 8% to 11%. Is that a natural fall-off that is to be expected in most courses or is the rate higher in STEM subjects?