Almost 60,000 mostly young people have received offers of college places via the CAO this lunchtime.
The Central Applications Office, which administers college entry on behalf of the universities and colleges, has issued 87,075 offers to 57,980 applicants.
Most students will be pleased with the news they have received.
At Level 8 or degree level almost 60% of applicants have been offered a place on the course that was their first preference. This is 5% more than last year. 85% have received an offer for one of their top three preferences, 3% more than last year.
Nine out of ten students applying for Level 6/7 courses have been offered a place on their first preference course.
This year's data also shows that considerably fewer courses this year have used random selection to offer places. Compared to last year the number has been more than halved, down to 19 courses from 47 last year.
Random selection is used to select students for a course when too many students have achieved the points required.
Minister for Higher and Further Education Simon Harris has welcomed the fact that more students have received first preference offers this year. He has attributed this to "a significant investment in college places in particular on courses where there is high demand".
Following the creation of an additional 120 places in medicine over this year and last, points have fallen on medicine courses.
Medicine has fallen by 7 at UCD and at University of Galway and by 4 at Trinity College.
Points drop
In more good news for this year's applicants, there has been a fall in the points requirement for more than 60% of Level 8 courses.
Compared to this time last year nursing courses, for example, are down by between 10 and 58 points across University of Galway, University of Limerick, Trinity College and Dublin City University.
Primary teaching courses have seen a fall of 19 to 487 at Dublin City University, 42 points to 498 at Maynooth University, and are down 12 points at Mary Immaculate College in Limerick.
Many of the country's Arts degree courses have also seen points fall or remain at last year's Round 1 levels. UCD's joint honours course is down by 22 points. At Maynooth University, Arts has fallen by 28 points.
Commerce at UCD is down by 9 points to 545, and while places were offered by random selection last year, this time around all candidates who achieved this points level have been offered a place. Commerce in UCC has also fallen by 9 points and by 21 at University of Galway.
Applicants can check to see if they have received an offer by logging into their account at CAO.ie.
Successful applicants who opted to be contacted via email and text message will be informed in this way.
We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
The CAO has reminded students that they may receive two offers; one for a Level 8 course and another for a Level 6/7 programme. In this case they must choose between the two courses and select only one.
Applicants have also been reminded that if they receive a lower preference offer in this round, accepting this offer will not prevent them from receiving an offer of a course higher up on their course list in a later round should a place become available.
How to check and accept a CAO offer
Head of Communications with the CAO Eileen Keleghan also advised: "Those who receive an offer in this round should also consider the current offer carefully as it may be the only one they will receive."
If an applicant has not received any offer they will receive a 'Statement of Application' email.
Offers must be accepted by 3pm next Tuesday.
Earlier today Thomas Maloney met his mother Andrea while on a lunchbreak from his summer job as an usher at Knock Shrine.
The pair strolled to a nearby bench where Thomas checked his phone and saw an email from the CAO.
"I got Veterinary in UCD" he said, clearly shocked and happy.
"Are you sure its right?", his mother asked as she put on her reading glasses to scrutinise the email.
Just then a text popped onscreen confirming the good news. Veterinary Medicine was Thomas's first choice.
"Early mornings and late nights, but it all paid off." he said.
Thomas is now set to be the first person in his family to go to college.
"I'm delighted. I'm over the moon. It is a dream come true", the former St Louis Community School Kiltimagh student said.
Andrea said: "I'm delighted for him. He has worked awful hard, so we are very pleased, and very proud of him."
