The fall-off in the number of students choosing to study computers and science at college is a growing worry for the technology industry .

The sector is still failing to get across a message to students that technology and science can offer rewarding career opportunities for new graduates, a technology lobby group warned yesterday.

ICT Ireland, which represents firms employing 100,000 people in the Republic, blamed the continued decline in interest in science on a perception that the sector was still shedding jobs.

"The big influences on students are their mothers, teachers and other kids," said Mr Jim O'Hara, chairman of ICT Ireland and head of Intel Ireland.

They were getting a negative perception from the news media, and the industry needed to get a balanced message across, said Mr O'Hara.

ICT Ireland's concerns were underlined earlier this month with the release of preliminary CAO data that showed a further dip in demand for computer courses.

Mr O'Hara said that, for every two or three jobs lost in Ireland over the past three years, at least one new higher-value job had been created by companies.

He said people could earn competitive salaries in the technology sector. The average salary at Intel, for example, was currently €35,000-€40,000, he added.

"The objective we have is to put the right data in front of people to help them make up their minds," said Mr O'Hara.

ICT Ireland also laid out its strategy for 2004 at the briefing yesterday. It will focus on promoting research and development, education, foreign direct investment and developing entrepreneurship in the industry. It will also seek to boost the profile of the industry.