The data referred to by the Deputy were recently published by my Department in a publication entitled Sé-Sí: Gender in Irish Education. The publication made use of existing administrative sources of information in line with recommendations of the Central Statistics Office in its Statistical Potential of Administrative Records (SPAR) published in 2003.
My Department is currently reviewing all data needs and sources across the Department and its associated agencies with a view to identifying priorities as part of a Department Data Strategy. At this stage, no final decision has been made with regards to which areas will be prioritised within existing resources and taking account of the overall data burden on schools and agencies providing information.