Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 October 2015
329. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students living in, or from, the defined RAPID area of Ennis in County Clare who are attending, or who have attended, third level education for the years 2011 to 2014, inclusive, and to date in 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36901/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraInformation on the number of students living in or from the defined Rapid area of Ennis, Co. Clare that are or have attended third level education is not available. The Higher Education Authority have however, provided information on the number of enrolments from Co. Clare in higher education for 2012/13 and 2013/14 as follows: 2012/13 - 4,517; 2013/14 - 4,645. In 2014, the HEA carried out an analysis on the higher education participation rates from each county, i.e. the percentage of people ages 18-20 in each county that entered higher education as first-time new entrants, in the academic year 2011/12. In County Clare, 910 people aged 18-20, out of a population of 1,545, entered higher education as first time new entrants. This participation rate of 59% is an above-average rate (national average is 51.5%).
