Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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269. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of students recorded as having dropped out at second and third level on an annual basis over the past four years to date; the extent if any to which provision has been made for such students to avail of a second educational opportunity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50796/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The extent of student dropout at second level is published by my Department in the reports titled Retention Rates of Pupils in Second Level Schools. Please see the link to the reports on my Department's website: . The most recently published data, for the cohort who entered the Junior Cycle in 2006, and sat the Leaving Certificate in either 2011 or 2012, shows a nationally adjusted retention rate to the Leaving Certificate of 90.2%. An updated retention report will be published later in the year.

It should be noted that this report deals with retention within the State-aided schooling system only. It does not take account of important educational pathways outside this system such as Youthreach and apprenticeship training. In effect, pupils leaving school to undertake these programmes are treated as early school leavers for the purposes of this analysis. It seems reasonable to assume that the "true‟ retention rate, comparable to completion of upper second-level education (equivalent to NFQ levels 4,5 and 6 Advanced), is higher. The Higher Education Authority, which is responsible for the collection of data on student progression in the third level sector , 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 for publication in January 2014.

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. As regards provision of second educational opportunities, the Youthreach programme provides two years integrated education, training and work experience for unemployed early school leavers without any qualifications or vocational training who are between 15 and 20 years of age. There are almost 6,000 places available nationwide under the Youthreach umbrella. Almost 3,700 of these places are provided by Education and Training Boards (ETBs) in over 100 Youthreach centres with the remainder provided by SOLAS in Community Training Centres (CTCs). A revitalised Further Education and Training sector under the direction of SOLAS and through the operations of the Education and Training Boards will promote access for all learners who wish to avail of programmes – including the unemployed and the employed, school leavers as well as early school leavers. The development of the five year strategy for further education and training by SOLAS will provide a road map to the future. This strategy is due to be published within the next 6 months.

Effective working arrangements between SOLAS, Intreo and the ETBs under the Pathways to Work Programme is critical to delivering support for those who need it most. My Department will continue to provide quality education and training places for referrals through the Intreo system. My Department is fully engaging with the process, being led by the Department of Social Protection, to develop the Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan. The education system will support the Youth Guarantee through providing quality training and education and work placement opportunities in education and training programmes.