Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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225. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students that have dropped out of third level education in each of the last three years and to date in 2013; the number that have dropped out since Student Universal Support Ireland took over the processing of student grant applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33382/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The information sought by the Deputy is not currently available. The HEA, which is responsible for the collection of data on student progression, is currently working on an analysis of retention rates in the universities and institutes of technology. This has only recently become possible due to a full population of SRS (Student Record System) data becoming available for a period spanning five years. The HEA does not have information for the 2012/2013 or 2011/2012 academic years and is currently collating data for the 2010/11 academic year which it is hoped will be available in the autumn.

There are a range of factors that impact on participation and progression in higher education including economic, social and cultural issues, prior academic attainment and teacher and parental expectations. The most recent report by the HEA on retention entitled, 'A study of Progression in Higher Education', was published in 2010 and is available on the HEA website.