Monday, August 23rd:

The CAO posts out offer notices.

Tuesday, August 24th:

The round one cut-off points will be published in College Places 99, a supplement with The Irish Times. The first round offers should be in your homes on this date.

Wednesday, September 1st:

If you wish to accept a first-round offer, you must reply by Wednesday, September 1st, at 5.15 p.m. If you do not reply, you will be deemed to have rejected the offer.

Tuesday, September 7th:

A second round of offers will be posted on September 6th to be with students on September 7th. The reply date for second-round offers will be September 13th at 5.15 p.m. Again, if you do not accept an offer by this date, you will be deemed to have rejected it and the place will be offered to someone else.

There will not be a third round of offers this year. Instead, colleges will authorise offers on a daily basis and the CAO will post them out (this has been the practice in the past after round three).

The CAO recommends that students communicate with the office in writing, using the inquiry form attached to their offer notices.

A spokesman for the CAO says you should "not be concerned about the time taken to deal with written enquiries. CAO aims to reply by immediate return of post."

Those who have followed the "few simple CAO instructions" will not lose any place to which they are entitled.

You can also contact the CAO by telephone: (091) 509800.