A large number of college courses offered through the Central Applications Office have unfilled places, with many of these in the technology and and engineering areas, according to details published on the CAO's website yesterday.
In total, the vacant places list reveals that 165 courses - or almost 15 per cent of those on offer through the CAO - have vacancies after the publication of first round offers on Monday.
Amid widespread concern among government and industry leaders about the take-up of such courses among school leavers, the list reveals that a large number of courses in universities and institutes of technology (ITs) have vacant places in engineering and computing.
Private fee-paying colleges also feature strongly on the list.
It includes 60 higher level degree courses, with the remaining courses offering ordinary degree and certificates.
The list shows that there are vacant places on higher degree courses at three of the State's seven universities, DCU, NUI Maynooth and NUI Galway.
This includes common entry to engineering at DCU, and computing studies, mathematical science, information technology and electronic engineering at NUI Galway. Four engineering higher degree courses at NUI Maynooth also have vacancies.
Elsewhere, the list reveals that Dundalk Institute of Technology has vacancies in 17 courses, including higher level computing degrees and ordinary degree and certificate courses in areas such as business studies, engineering, science and building.
Similarly, Letterkenny IT has unfilled places on 18 courses including product design, engineering, and analytical and forensic science. Sligo IT has 14 vacancies, while Tipperary IT has 12 vacancies.
The figures reveal that there is likely to be strong competition for students among private colleges. Some of Dublin's best-known private colleges, including Griffith, Portobello and the American colleges, have vacancies in subjects such as business studies, fashion design, law, marketing and computing.
The CAO has also confirmed that it received almost 16,000 online acceptances for higher degree, ordinary degree and certificate courses on Monday alone.
By yesterday evening, the total number of acceptances online stood at 17,740.
However, as thousands of Leaving Certificate students prepare to begin their college lives, the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has claimed that delayed processing of student grants will leave many without adequate funds to pay for accommodation and living costs.
It said the first instalments of the student grant will not be issued on time to thousands of new and returning students.
USI president Richard Morrisroe accused the Government of "engendering a crisis through negligence" by failing to implement the "much-promised" Student Support Bill before the Dáil summer recess.
Separately, the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) yesterday highlighted the need for ongoing funding for apprentices. It said the number of registered apprentices, more than 30,000, was at an all-time high.
"We have warmly welcomed the €8.5 million funding package announced by Ms Hanafin in April but would strongly urge the Minister to ensure that this is simply part of a continuous funding stream," TUI president Tim O'Meara said.