“College applications have jumped this year, most likely due to the jobs gloom and the threat of a return of third-level fees in the future. According to preliminary figures, the CAO received more than 66,000 applications before the February 1 deadline. It is up by well over 2,000 on the comparable figure last year, when there were 63,868 applications. There were 61,961 applications in 2007. The shrinking jobs market is certain to have played a role as this year’s school-leavers considered their choices for next September. And Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe’s support for the return of fees may have persuaded second-level students and their parents not to delay any decision to go to college …” (more)
[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 4 February]