6,316 round one offers issued to CAO applicants in Cork

The higher education minister has said his “heart goes out” to students who missed out on third-level courses due to a lottery allocation system.

Third level applicants have received the first round of offers from the Central Admissions Office (CAO), with 6,316 round one offers issued to applicants in Cork.

Nationally, the CAO issued 86,098 round-one offers to 59,201 third-level applicants. These offers consist of 54,256 opportunities for Level 8 courses and 31,842 for Level 6/7.

However, if there are too many candidates with the same number of points competing for the last available seats on the course, students from that cohort are chosen at random.

CAO data has shown that 25 courses nationally have been determined by random selection, including two that required the maximum 625 points this year; Management Science and Information Systems studies, as well as Dental Science, both at Trinity College Dublin.

Higher education minister James Lawless defended the system as “the least worst way to do it at the moment”.

“Ultimately, the courses that may be decided (by) random selection are less than 2% of the entire course load across the spectrum.

“So, while my heart goes out to a student in that situation that might have worked so hard and ultimately have their choice determined by random selection, it is a very small cohort.”

Asked if he believed the system was fair, he said: “Absolutely I think it is fair. It may not be desirable, it may not be what we would want to have but, in terms of fairness, it is arbitrary. It is mathematical.”

Speaking to The Echo, principal of Coláiste Éamann Rís Aaron Wolfe had advice for students about what next steps they can take, especially if they are not sure what to do or may have not got the course they wanted.

“The best person to ask for any advice is your guidance counsellor back in your school. Those guidance counsellors are available to students, because once you are a student of a school you are always connected to that school.

“The guidance counsellors are the experts in that area and will be able to advise students. It’s not the end of the world. Get in to your schools and talk to your guidance counsellor. Remember, this is only a small moment of your life in the greater scheme of things. Students also need to focus on the achievement that passing the Leaving Cert is.”

Pádraig Mac An Rí, principal at Coláiste Chríost Rí, agreed: “My single piece of advice would be to contact the school, go in and see the counsellor.”

Cork North-Central Labour Party TD Eoghan Kenny, who is also a former secondary school teacher said: “It is great to see opportunities arising for young adults to progress in their academia.

“It is also very heartening to see so many students now taking the options of apprenticeships and PLC courses in our further and higher education institutes.

“Today is important and the advice I would offer is, not to worry. Many students will find it difficult when offers come in.

“I am a believer, however, in that everything happens for a reason, it is a bit cliché, but I am a true believer in it.”

Applicants that were successful received a text message and an email at lunchtime today.