RECORD NUMBERS of CAO applicants are rushing to accept college places - amid concerns that third-level fees could return.
CAO figures published today show the number opting to defer a college place in order to take a gap year is at historically low levels.
Universities say the rush to accept a college place is being driven by what one senior figure calls an increasing "hysteria" that fees of at least €5,000 per year could return.
While Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe has called for a debate on the possible return of fees, he appears to have ruled out any immediate return of student payments.
However, universities report that these reassurances are doing little to assuage students and their parents.
One senior figure said: "We have been reassuring people there is no question of third-level fees coming back in the short-term. But parents are taking no chances."
By Tuesday evening of this week, 29,000 higher-level applicants had moved to accept their offer of a college place from the CAO, a dramatic increase on the pattern at this stage of the process last year.
The 29,000 applicants to date already surpasses the number of acceptances at the end of the entire CAO offer season late last year. The season continues up to the end of October when the results of Leaving Cert rechecks are published and additional college places allocated.
Mr O'Keeffe has signalled that no decision will be taken on the possible return of fees until the new national strategy for higher education is rolled out in about 18 months. The Minister is also awaiting the results of an audit of third-level spending.
The second round of CAO offers published this morning will bring little cheer for most students. Points for all but one of the 15 largest higher level offers are unchanged - and the number of new offers is at a very low level. With so few applicants deferring their places and taking a gap year, colleges have already filled their quota in most courses.
One glaring exception is courses in computing and engineering, of which there are still hundreds of places available. In practice, students can often now gain a place on university courses in these areas once they meet the basic college entry requirement for the course.
In today's second round, points for many engineering courses have tumbled. Mechatronic engineering at DCU is down by 40 points to 310, while computer electronic and communications engineering is down 55 to 315 at NUI Maynooth.
One piece of good news is that medicine is below 570 points, falling to 565 points at NUI Galway.
The CAO second round also shows continuing sluggish demanding for level 7/6 courses (ordinary degree/higher certificate ) level. Most of these are offered through the network of 14 institutes of technology in the State. Colleges have found it increasingly difficult to attract acceptances at these levels, even though applicants who receive awards almost always progress to a higher degree level 8 qualification.
Colleges report an increasing reluctance among students to begin their third-level studies at this level. The CAO received only 11,000 acceptances at level 7/6 to date and are hoping to fill a further 1,500 places in today's offers.