Irish Independent "Numbers accepting places in IT's outstrips the seven universities for the first time"

Outstripped
For the first time, the numbers accepting places in ITs -- 46.5pc of all acceptances -- has outstripped the numbers starting in the seven universities, which stands at 44.5pc.
Although university acceptances are up 600 on the previous year, these institutions are probably closer to capacity than the ITs, which had more flexibility to soak up extra demand.
The popularity of the ITs may be explained by the lower level of academic competition for many of their courses and the more vocational type programmes they offer.
HEA chairman Michael Kelly described the increase in numbers as "phenomenal". "They clearly show the strong demand for higher education. Up to two out of every three 18-year-olds are now taking a place in third level."
The rise in college entrants -- up from 42,117 last year and 39,915 in 2007 -- means that as well as school-leavers, growing numbers are also accessing higher education through routes other than the CAO.
Meanwhile, the Irish Federation of University Teachers has called on the Government to reverse the embargo on staff recruitment in third-level colleges.

Interesting article -will the popularity of the IT sector continue?

Open Days in November and December 2009

Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology -27th November
NUI Maynooth-Open Day
The Pilot Training College of Ireland
The Pontifical university Maynooth

Open Day -for BMus CIT Cork School of Music - 28th November
Open Day - Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and technology

National College of Art and Design -3rd December
University College Dublin- 4th December
Dublin Institute of Technology- 5th December
Trinity College Dublin- 9th December

H.E.A.R.access route

Hi fellow bloggers! Just looking for your thoughts on the extension of the HEAR access scheme to all cao applicants this year? The financial threshold is €51,000.00 approximately.Do you think there will be a huge increase in numbers ticking this box on the C.A.O. form?