Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 525: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of students that dropped out of third level courses in the 2008-09 academic year; the number of students that have dropped out of first year third level courses to date in the 2009-10 academic year; if there will be an increase in the registration fee for third level students; and if he will introduce a change in the grant application for third level, a simpler application form available when students are still in sixth year of secondary school in order to expedite the processing of the grants. [42548/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Higher Education Authority is currently conducting research on the numbers progressing in the third level system. The research will report on the progression of third level students from March 2008 to March 2009. This report will be available early in the New Year. Data on the 2009/2010 entrants will not be available until summer 2010. In relation to the issue of the student services charge, the Government has already announced that it is willing to accept increases of up to €1,500 (from €900) for the 2009/10 academic year in individual higher education institutions.

My Department is actively engaged in a programme of administrative and legislative reform of student grants. The overall objective of this reform is to facilitate the introduction of significant service level improvements in the administration of student grants.

In streamlining the process of applying for a student grant, this year, for the first time, a downloadable application form was made available on the www.studentfinance.ie website. The Department is actively engaged in the development of a new, more user-friendly application form for student grants. It is planned to make the new application forms available a good deal earlier in the year so that students can submit grant applications following completion of the CAO process.