Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 November 2012
297. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills of the total number of student who have started a third level course this year, if any students have subsequently left these courses due to the delays in decisions being made on grants by Student Universal Support Ireland; if there is a record of the number of students that have left courses to date in this academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49960/12]
View answerThe Deputy will appreciate that as institutions are currently in the process of uploading enrolment data in respect of the 2012/13 academic year on the Higher Education Authority's, Student Records System, that the data requested is not currrently available. In addition data in relation to students who have withdrawn from their courses would not be available from the Student Records System until later in the academic year.
The Higher Education Authority (HEA) on foot of a request from my Department, has written to all higher education institutions requesting them to show flexibility and consideration, as most have done in the past, to students who may be awaiting a decision on their grant application and/or payment of grants.The HEA has requested institutions to consider not withdrawing facilities such as library or exam access, given that these students are awaiting decision on their grant applications. The situation is being kept under review.
