CAO points are continuing to fall across a broad range of the most popular courses, according to the first-round figures published this morning, writes Seán Flynn, Education Editor
Two of the top three courses in the State - Arts at UCD (1,194 places) and Arts at UCC (929 places) - have fallen back a further five points to 345 and 340 respectively.
Science, the second biggest area of interest to students (after Arts), has seen a dramatic downward spiral in points. Points for higher level science courses at UCD, UCC and NUI Galway are down by more than 20 points.
For the first time The Irish Times today publishes the number of actual places available in the CAO courses with the largest numbers. Of the 15 biggest, CAO points are down in seven, unchanged in two and up in only five.
Points are down in many technology and computer courses, reflecting the small pool of pupils (now just over 7,000) who have achieved Grade C in higher level maths in the Leaving Cert - the minimum requirement for many of these courses.
In a trend that will worry the Government and business leaders, points for some electronic engineering courses have slumped dramatically. In six of the nine programmes on offer at higher level, points are down between 10 and 55 points.
Last week, Minister for Education Mary Hanafin expressed concern about the diminishing pool of hi-tech graduates and the possible negative impact on the economy.
Overall, the CAO first round confirms how the points race has ended for all but a small basket of medicine and related courses.
There had been speculation in recent weeks that the increase in CAO applications by 2,000 this year would trigger an across-the-board increase in points from last year's historically low level. But this did not materialise.
Of those receiving a Level 8 (higher degree) offer this morning, a record 78 per cent are getting an offer of their first, second or third preference. And a remarkable 96 per cent of those getting a Level 6/7 offer (ordinary degree/higher cert) are getting an offer of their first, second or third preference.
The areas showing an increase in points this year include those in teacher training, some business courses and law. Points for both honours teacher training courses at St Patrick's College and Mary Immaculate College are up marginally to 465. Law courses have recovered from last year's decline, up 15 points at UCC to 500 and by 10 points to 505 in UCD.
Surprisingly, medicine has dipped by five points to 585 in Trinity and by five to 570 in UCD. Veterinary medicine in UCD, dentistry in UCC and occupational therapy in UCC and Trinity are all down by five points.
Despite the overall drop in CAO points, Trinity College again managed to buck the trend this year. Some 29 of its higher level degree courses have increased points, while 16 are down.
One of the courses to decline at Trinity is Drama and Theatre Studies, down 30 points to 470. This may reflect confusion among applicants following publicity about the college's controversial decision to discontinue its acting programme.
At UCD - the biggest university in the State - over half of its higher degree courses have seen a reduction in points.
This year, nursing degrees saw a general softening of points, down between five and 10 points in UCD and Trinity. It is down between 10-15 points in a number of the institutes of technology.
Business courses continue to draw a huge number of students. Commerce at UCD is unchanged at 450 points, while business at UCC and DCU has increased by 10 points to 445 and 435 respectively.