Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The table contained in the attached document outlines the proportion of undergraduate new entrants to higher education from 2005/06 to 2014/15 by gender. A new entrant is a first time participant in higher education entering in the first year of an undergraduate programme.

The proportions by gender will vary by institution type. In 2005/06 in the Institute of Technology sector 52% of undergraduate new entrants were male and 48% female compared to 41% male and 59% female in the university sector. In 2014/15 these rates had changed to 56% males in the Institute of Technology sector and 46% males in the University sector. Overall in the last 10 years the proportion of males participating in higher education has increased although it has stabilised in the last 6 years. The rates will also vary by discipline for example in 2014/15 71% of all undergraduate new entrants to Technology disciplines (Science, ICT and Engineering) were male compared to 42% of all other disciplines (Arts, Humanities, Business, Services Agriculture and Vet and Healthcare).

Breakdown of Participation by Men and Women in Higher Education