Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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2529. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students nationally at third level have dropped out from their studies due to mental health issues in the years 2020 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19539/25]

Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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2530. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students nationally at third level have dropped out from their studies due to mental health issues in the years 2020 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19540/25]

Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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2572. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students nationally at third level that have dropped out from their studies due to their mental health issues in the years 2020 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20472/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 2529, 2530 and 2572 together.

The Higher Education Authority publishes data annually on the proportion of students who don’t progress from first to second year of higher education. The latest figures published by the HEA are in relation to students who commenced in the 2022/23 academic year and look at progression rates to the 2023/24 academic year. The most recent data suggests that, after a number of years when the progression rate fluctuated due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, progression rates have returned to pre-pandemic levels.

The HEA does not collect data on the underlying causes of non-progression, and it is important to say that where students do withdraw from third level education they do so for a variety of reasons.

There is not one single cause of student attrition, and usually there are a multiple factors at play. Prior research into this matter identifies numerous issues as playing a role including issues with the course, personal difficulties financial difficulties, health issues and family issues.

Of these, issues with their chosen course was by far the most prevalent issue cited, with issues such as intending to transfer to a new course, the difficulty of the course, or feeling like they had chosen the wrong course all cited by students as issues impacting the decision not to progress in their studies.

Wellbeing is a priority for this Department and a considerable investment has been made in recent years since the pandemic. This Government is committed in its Programme for Government to continue to support students experiencing mental health and wellbeing challenges.

In the table below, the reference year is the students' year of entry to higher education. Progressed students are those present in the same institute from one year to the next, transferred students are those who changed institution but remain in higher education, and the non-progression rate refers to those who are no longer present in the HEA's student records system in their second year.