Student preference: Medicine remains the Holy Grail in terms of third-level courses, yet pharmacy, physiotherapy and other healthcare professions are experiencing a fall-off in student interest, according to the latest Central Application Office (CAO)figures.
First preference applications for medicine increased by almost 8 per cent, compared with pharmacy and physiotherapy first preference applications which fell by 7 per cent and almost 10 per cent respectively.
The CAO also reported a reduction of almost 11 per cent in the first preference applications to other healthcare courses, inclusive of occupational therapy and radiography.
Explanations for the downward trend are diverse but a "false expectation" that the increased medical places would result in decreased points may have propelled students to apply in greater numbers for medicine according to Brian Mooney, of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors.
The added reality of points being particularly high for courses such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, pharmacy and radiography may also have led to an "out of reach" perception among Leaving Certificate students according to Mr Mooney.
In general, pharmacy courses received 230 less applications this year, while there were 299 fewer applications to physiotherapy courses compared to 2005. However, this is in the context of a decreasing number of students applying to the CAO this year.
Juliette Hussey, acting head of the school of physiotherapy in Trinity College, believes that despite a slight fall, the 4,243 applications in total and 1,015 first preference applications are still "incredibly high".
She maintains that there are approximately nine students applying for each physiotherapy place. This is potentially higher than most other healthcare courses when assessed from the perspective of number of applications to available places.
Dr Ambrose McLoughlin, registrar and secretary of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, contends that the decrease in applications for pharmacy is attributable to the laws of supply and demand.
With three new schools of pharmacy planning to accommodate an increase of 120 pharmacy students by 2007, Dr McLoughlin is confident that they will attract "the brightest and best". He reasons that annual fluctuations in some courses are normal.
"In my personal view, health profession careers will remain highly attractive and will continue to be a fairly unique opportunity for people who want to contribute to the welfare of their fellow citizens," Dr McLoughlin says .
On the other side of the CAO spectrum, nursing courses received 4,869 more applications than last year and an increase of over 8 per cent in terms of its first preference applications.
One explanation for the dramatic increase is attributed to the introduction of two new courses this year which will boost the number of nursing places to almost 1,900 in September, according to Liam Doran, general secretary of the Irish Nurses Organisation.
A direct-entry course for midwifery and a four-and-a-half year degree course, in which graduates are registered as both a general nurse and a children's nurse, are the subject of great student interest.
However, with demand for nursing stronger, points will inevitably increase. Nursing courses, which hinged on the 380 mark last year, may now require a score in the early 400s when CAO offers are made in August.
"We very much welcome the news because we see nursing as a very attractive career. The challenge that faces the health service is having educated these students, there is a need to retain them in the Irish system," Mr Doran added.