There has been a surge in CAO applications this year with numbers applying up by 6.5% compared to last year.
The rise comes on the back of an 8.5% increase in 2025.
By 1 February the CAO had received 88,817 applications to study at a third-level college here next September. That is 5,393 more applications than last year.
Population growth is likely to be the key driver of the surge.
The CAO has released a breakdown of applications across disciplines.
The data shows growing interest in courses in the field of health, with a 17% rise overall in first preferences for health related degree courses.
Students have responded positively to news of expansion in some specialist fields of study within health.
First preference applications to veterinary medicine courses have risen by 75%, reflecting the opening of two new schools of veterinary medicine at the SETU and ATU technological universities, and the creation of 80 additional places.
Applications to pharmacy, which also sees additional places this year, have increased by 41%.
Arts courses
In a development that will hearten college arts faculties, first preference applications to degree courses in the field of arts have risen by 7% this year following a slight decline in applications last year.
Last month The Irish Times reported on an internal University of Galway report which proposed discontinuing and replacing its general arts degree programme. The report blamed a downward trend in applications to its arts degree course on a "drift away" from arts courses more generally.
Any such drift is not apparent in this year's CAO applications.
When it comes to Level 8 or degree courses, arts remains the third most popular field of study, after health, and business and administration.
With almost 16,700 first preference applications to Level 8 health compared to 9,500 for business and administration, and just under 7,600 in arts, health remains by far the most popular choice for students.
Applications to education courses have risen by 7% this year with a rise of 12% in first preference applications for secondary teaching.
The number of students giving their first preference to courses related to the environment has increased by 17%.
HEAR and DARE
There has been a 15% rise in the number of students applying under the special disability access route.
An additional 1,814 students have applied in the DARE category compared to last year. This follows a similar increase last year.
The number of applications from students wishing to avail of a special entry route for those from disadvantaged backgrounds has fallen slightly.
These February figures are provisional. Most CAO applicants will be permitted to use the CAO's change of mind facility when it opens on 5 May. The CAO is also accepting late applications up to 1 May.
Commenting on the CAO's 50th year in operation, General Manager Joseph O’Grady said the body offered "a high degree of convenience to applicants and their advisors", and "considerable economies and efficiencies to Higher Education Institutions".
"Fairness and transparency are the foundations of the system, as well as equality of treatment for both applicants and participating Higher Education Institutions," he said.
Criticism
However the college admissions process, and in particular the points system, has long come in for criticism from second-level educators.
Post primary school leaders have warned that the redevelopment of senior cycle education will be meaningless unless changes are made.
This morning members of National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals met to discuss the topic and hear from experts.
"Current university admissions practices fail to sufficiently consider students’ aptitudes, interests, and abilities," the organisation said.
"As school leaders we have first-hand experience of students doing extremely well in the leaving certificate, attaining high points but feeling like a failure because they didn’t get enough points for their desired course, this is unacceptable," NAPD President Brian Doran said.
He said universities made offers to students "without meaningful insight into the individual person, despite the extensive student information that exists throughout primary and post-primary education".
"Between the data we have, and anecdotal evidence, we know that many students are accepting courses based on available points rather than genuine fit, while others miss out due to limited places.
"This dynamic contributes to course changes and drop-outs, representing lost opportunities for students and inefficiencies within the system," he said.
Listen: Is the CAO system fair to all students?
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More focus on school completion needed, says principal
The principal of a secondary school in Tallaght has claimed universities and colleges should focus more on school completion, rather than only CAO points.
Kevin Shortall, principal of St Aidan's Community School, also said too much value is put on the CAO.
Speaking on RTÉ's Today with David McCullagh, he added that the CAO rewards students from better socio-economic backgrounds.
"There's a direct correlation between disadvantage and poorer access to college," he said.
"It's our whole system, really, and it's gone on for a long time. Our system is designed because it measures performance really rather than experience.
"And the highest number of points gets the most prestigious college courses."
Mr Shortall said that there are now efforts to change that in school.
"For example, we measure school completion, we measure participation, and we are judged on that.
"I think the colleges need to have that same model they do, but not to the same extent as secondary schools."
Mr Shortall claimed that the CAO "is a false model" but it is "the only show in town for college progression".
