Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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519. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students who have dropped out of college to date in the 2020-2021 academic year. [5073/21]

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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521. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to an increase in the number of first year students dropping out of college in the 2020-2021 academic year. [5076/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 519 and 521 together.

My Department is acutely aware of the additional challenges faced by students as a result of Covid-19, and is conscious that this could have the potential to impact on progression rates, particularly for first year students. We are engaging regularly with the sector to understand how the student experience is being impacted as the academic year progresses.

In the period to the end of 2020, we are not aware of substantial differences in withdrawal and deferral rates relative to other years. However, the beginning of semester 2 should give a clearer indication of these rates. Most Higher Education Institutions give students until the beginning of February to inform them of their intention not to continue with their course of study and therefore a better indication of non-progression rates will be available later in the semester. We will continue to liaise with stakeholders in this regard.