This year's CAO figures show another dramatic fall in the number of students interested in pursuing a science course at third level. The overall number of science applications at degree level has fallen from 46,572 last year to 41,707 this year.
The number putting science as first CAO choice has fallen to 4,863, from 5,257 last year.In contrast, arts courses gained in popularity again, with over 96,000 students putting such a course somewhere on their list.
The declining interest in science is likely to mean points for science and related courses will plummet in many colleges. They have been falling sharply in recent years.
The figures are contained among this year's CAO returns which give a breakdown of applications for all the main areas.
Earlier this week The Irish Times published confidential data on the applications each college received this year.
The figures also show a marked decline in the numbers applying for engineering and computer courses. These were down to 43,899 from just over 60,000 last year.
While points are likely to plunge for science courses again, there is little likelihood of any great change for healthcare courses such as medicine, dentistry and physiotherapy. They attracted similar levels of interest to last year, although applications for physiotherapy were up by almost 700.
Despite the current tension between the Government and the teacher unions, the demand for teacher training college places has increased. There were a total of 19,753 applications for education courses this year compared to 18,435 last year. The number putting teaching as a first preference was up by a few hundred.
There was also a significant decline in the number going for business courses. The total number of applications was down from 84,383 to 71,703 this year.
On the diploma and certificate lists students also deserted science, with total applications down to 23,778 from 26,085 last year. There was a large rise in applications for business courses, up over 25,000.
The number of students applying to take degree courses in the Institutes of Technology increased this year, reflecting the growth in degree programmes in the sector.
According to a statement from the institutes' council of directors this proved their courses were meeting students' needs.
"This is very encouraging in the context of falling student numbers nationally and a continuing increase in the choice of degree courses available," Prof Ciarán Ó Catháin, chairman of the council and director of Athlone Institute of Technology, said.
He added that more students than ever would be able to undertake their first choice of study.
He said points were likely to fall for many courses, reversing the increasing points pressure of recent years.
Meanwhile the Nursing Board welcomed a rise in the number of applications for nursing places. This year 8,882 applied, a 35 per cent increase.