Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills of the total number of student who have started a third level course this year, if any students have subsequently left these courses due to the delays in decisions being made on grants by Student Universal Support Ireland; if there is a record of the number of students that have left courses to date in this academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49960/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Deputy will appreciate that as institutions are currently in the process of uploading enrolment data in respect of the 2012/13 academic year on the Higher Education Authority's, Student Records System, that the data requested is not currrently available. In addition data in relation to students who have withdrawn from their courses would not be available from the Student Records System until later in the academic year.

The Higher Education Authority (HEA) on foot of a request from my Department, has written to all higher education institutions requesting them to show flexibility and consideration, as most have done in the past, to students who may be awaiting a decision on their grant application and/or payment of grants.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students in third level education that have yet to pay the first instalment of this years increased fees; the way this compares to last year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49961/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The position is that the information requested by the Deputy is not available at this stage. I have asked the Higher Education Authority (HEA) to contact each institution in this regard and when this information is collated I will send the information to the Deputy.