When the Irish economy took off in the mid-1990s about 120,000 people worked in the construction industry. Today that figure is a little short of 200,000, a staggering growth of over 50 per cent in less than eight years.
Over 60,000 new houses are being built each year. Motorways are being built between our main cities, and multinational companies are continuing to open plants in Ireland.
All this activity needs the support of highly qualified practitioners in a wide range of disciplines. Today's school-leavers have a range of career opportunities available to them in the construction industry, with plenty of the courses in the institutes of technology.
First there are the architects who oversee the design and supervision of building projects. There are two five-year architectural degree courses available through the CAO - DN001 in UCD and FT101 in DIT Bolton St.
Entry to UCD is by points only. The DIT course is a restricted application course with aptitude tests followed by interviews and portfolio presentation.
A maximum of 200 points are awarded during this process. Last year points requirements were 530 in UCD and 574 in the DIT.
The National Building Agency (www.nba.ie) awards a scholarship for architecture to students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Architectural technologists, sometimes known as architectural technicians, usually work alongside architects. They prepare the paperwork used in construction.
This includes schedules as well as free-hand and computer-aided designs.
DIT, Cork IT, Waterford IT and Carlow IT offer courses with points requirements of between 300-400 in this area.
Interior design graduates also work with architects. The institutes of technology in Cork and Sligo offer interior design courses with points requirements of 310-360. Griffith College Dublin offers such a course on a fee basis.
Students on these kinds of courses often ask if they can then study architecture. The answer is simple.
The chances of being accepted on to either of the two degree courses in architecture in Ireland are slim to remote.
However, the situation is different in the UK.
Many graduates of these disciplines are accepted on to architecture degree courses in the UK, getting various exemptions based on their qualifications.
Before an architect gets involved, the land has to be surveyed and the environmental implications of the proposed building, along with its compliance with planning regulations, weighed up.
Two degree programmes at the DIT train graduates for this work: geomatics (land surveying), FT112, and planning and environmental management, FT116.
Points requirements are probably going to fall to between 300-400 this year.
Once the architect has designed the building, a quantity surveyor will analyse the design for the purposes of cost planning, detailed tendering, cost and control.
DIT and Limerick IT offer four-year degrees in quantity surveying, with points requirements of between 400 and 440.
The next stage is the management of the building process. This involves the organisation of contracts for labour, materials, plant, and negotiations with contractors. Degrees in construction management are offered by DIT, Waterford IT, Limerick IT and Galway-Mayo IT. Points requirements may be in the 300-400 range.
Once the building is finished, the chartered/valuation surveyor gets involved. Graduates of this discipline operate as surveyors, valuers, estate agents, property advisers, developers and planners in either the private or public sector.
Four-year degrees in property valuation and management are offered by DIT, Limerick IT, Dundalk IT and Galway-Mayo IT.
Again the points requirements are likely to be in the 300-400 range.
For those interested in auctioneering the DIT is offering a new ordinary degree, FT104.
For students interested in a broad education and technical training in the principles and techniques of construction, several ITs offer two-year certificate courses in construction studies. They are Athlone, Carlow, Cork, Dundalk, Letterkenny, Galway-Mayo, Sligo, Tralee, Limerick and Waterford.
It should be pointed out that the numbers employed in construction will probably fall as 25- to 35-year-olds acquire their own homes.
The next age grouping, 15- to 25-year-olds, is smaller, and so fewer places in the industry might be available.
We have had several inquiries regarding CAO application packs for those outside the school system. Your local school might have a spare pack.
Otherwise, the CAO will dispatch a pack immediately to anyone requiring one. They can be contacted at Galway (091) 509800, fax (091) 562344, or online at www.cao.ie
Brian Mooney's column on CAO options will appear daily in the run-up to the February 1st deadline.
r You can email Brian Mooney on bmooney@irish-times.ie
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