The number of unfilled places in third-level colleges is expected to reach record levels over the coming weeks after the first round of Central Applications Office (CAO) offers.
With third-level colleges coming to terms with what has been seen as the end of the points race - other than in medical courses and a small number of other areas - career experts say many colleges will struggle to fill available places, particularly for ordinary-level degrees and certificate courses.
Already there are vacant places on more than 100 courses on the CAO website. Surprisingly, one-third of these are at higher-degree level. The number of vacant places is expected to increase through the entire offer season, which continues until October.
In a separate development, the applications office acknowledged yesterday that what it calls a "glitch" in its computer system may have affected some students who changed their CAO list of course choices in June.
Although some 20,000 students used the change-of-mind process, the office says only three students contacted them yesterday about the matter. They complained they did not get the course they were entitled to because of the the computer problem. Callers to The Irish Times Helpline expressed alarm yesterday that the CAO did not recognise their change of mind - even though they had been provided with printed confirmation in June.
The CAO said it had a computer problem on June 22nd. Although only a small number of students have indicated that they were affected, the office's failure to disclose the problem until now has been criticised in some education circles.
Ivor Gleeson of the CAO said yesterday he was unable to explain precisely what the problem was. However, he stressed that any student affected would be accommodated and their changes acknowledged.
Many of the unfilled places are in the science/engineering and computing area, a pattern that will dismay Government and business leaders who have been seeking to boost student demand for these disciplines. Places are available on a number of higher-level courses in engineering in Dublin City University (DCU) and in the growth area of science with nanotechnology at the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT).
At ordinary degree and certificate level, places are available in 20 courses offered by the Letterkenny Institute of Technology (IT) and in 13 courses at Galway/Mayo IT. A huge range of places are also available in private colleges such as Dublin Business School, The American College, Griffith College and Portobello College, Dublin.
In another development, several colleges have still to offer any places on some courses advertised in the CAO handbook. This is because they do not have sufficient applicants to make the courses viable.
The points requirement for these courses has been left blank on the first round of offers. Yesterday, third-level colleges were coming to terms with what many believe is a landmark moment in Irish education.
There is concern that the Government could move to cut funding - if there is a widespread perception of overcapacity in the system.
However, the adult education sector and places for mature students in universities and ITs is still hugely undeveloped.
Some believe that more funds should be earmarked for "second chance" education to assist those who lost out on a third-level place during the points race.
Last night, Labour's Joanna Tuffy said vacant places should be made available to school-leavers and employees wishing to undertake part-time study, in an effort to address the State's skills shortage.
More than 36,000 offers were made on ordinary degree and certificate courses available this year, mainly in ITs. But based on last year's trends, less than a third of this figure will be filled at this level.
