Paramedical courses are perennially popular with school-leavers. This is particularly true for girls. Unfortunately, this means there is tough competition for limited places and the cut-off points are consistently high.
The positive side is there is an attempt to keep the numbers in training in balance with the needs of the health services so, if you get a place, employment prospects are generally good.
What follows is a round-up of some of the paramedical courses on offer through the CAO:
Medical lab sciences
Three institutes of technology - DIT, Cork IT and Galway/Mayo IT - offer the primary qualification. This three-year certificate, which includes one year's internship in a training hospital, is no longer a standalone qualification. Graduates must complete a further two years of study for a degree in biomedical sciences - if they wish to work in hospital labs.
The two-year degree is offered by DIT Kevin Street and Cork IT, but Mr Richard Delaney, course co-ordinator for Galway/ Mayo IT's certificate, stresses graduates of Galway/Mayo IT are not disadvantaged when it comes to getting a place on the course. Ulster University also offers a degree course.
So second-level students interested in medical lab science should think in terms of five years of study. There are about 20 first-year places in each of the colleges and cut-off points ranged from 425 to 455. DIT Kevin Street requires a C in higher-level chemistry.
The jobs scene is now reasonably good for medical lab technicians. Although most biomedical science graduates will end up working in a diagnostic lab in a hospital, opportunities elsewhere increase.
Physiotherapy
This year, the Royal College of Surgeons joins TCD and UCD in offering an undergraduate physiotherapy degree. But there are only five places open to Irish students in the RCSI and tuition fees must be paid.
The cut-off points were 525* (random selection applied) in UCD and 530 in TCD last year. If you do manage to secure a place, you are virtually guaranteed employment when you qualify. Ms Anne Ging, PRO for the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists, says there has never been an unemployed physiotherapist, although finding permanent work may be more difficult than temporary employment.
New graduates usually begin their career in general hospitals, gaining experience in the different specialities. There are also opportunities in community care, private practice and many other areas.
Radiography
There are two radiography courses on offer in the Republic - diagnostic radiography in UCD (500* points in 1998) and therapeutic radiography in TCD (520 points in 1998).
UCD has 20 first-year places on offer this September while TCD has 10. The University of Ulster also offers a four-year radiography degree - both diagnostic and therapeutic specialisms are included. All three courses include clinical placement.
Therapeutic radiography is one of the main methods of treating cancer. The radiographer may deal with patients over a long period. Diagnostic radiography uses imaging techniques to diagnose.
Optometry
DIT offers the only course in the Republic allowing students to qualify as optometrists (the old name is optician). The cut-off points for this four-year degree course were 520*. The course includes a six-month work placement in fourth year. The University of Ulster offers a three-year degree.
Dietetics and human nutrition
Another very popular degree, dietetics and human nutrition, is offered jointly by DIT and TCD. The degree is recognised by the American Dietetic Association and in Britain. There are 25 first-year places.
In their final year, students spend 12 weeks working on a research project and 26 weeks on placement.
Pharmacy
TCD, the only college in the Republic to offer a pharmacy degree, has 70 first-year places. The cut-off points were 550 last year.
The job scene for pharmacists is extremely good, with graduates finding work in community and hospital pharmacies. After four years at TCD, graduates must spend a pre-registration year working before they are qualified to work as professional pharmacists.
Clinical speech and language
Another TCD offering, there are 26 first-year places to fill.
This four-year degree is recognised in Ireland and Britain. There is a shortage of speech and language therapists in both states so graduates do not usually have much difficulty finding work.
Last year, cut-off points were 500*. In addition to having enough points, prospective students are interviewed by TCD in the autumn. Last year, TCD invited applicants with 485 points or more to interview. The purpose of the interview is to ascertain that candidates do not have any speech or voice impediments which would render them unsuitable for the course.
The University of Ulster offers a four-year degree in speech and language therapy.
Occupational therapy
There are 30 first-year places on TCD's occupational therapy degree. Again, it is the only degree in the Republic. UU has a four-year degree.
The cut-off points for TCD's course were 495*. Occupational therapists find work in hospitals, schools, day hospitals, community health services and people's homes. Career prospects are excellent.
Applied physiology and health science
Carlow IT offers an innovative two-year national certificate in applied physiology and health science (1998 cut-off points: 415). The main attraction is that graduates who do well enough in their exams can transfer to a variety of therapy programmes, mainly in the UK.
Course tutor Mr Tom D'Arcy says typically eight to 10 students get places on physiotherapy courses each year. These are students who have about 460 points in Leaving Cert points and a distinction in their certificate. They do not get any exemptions.
Other certificate graduates get places on courses such as occupational therapy, speech therapy, rehabilitation therapy, radiography, nutrition and dietetics. Almost all of last year's graduates are continuing their studies on therapy degrees in Britain and Northern Ireland.
Mr D'Arcy says the college hopes to introduce a two-year add-on degree this September. There will be 16 places on this degree in physiology and rehabilitation.
There are usually 48 first-year places on the certificate course but numbers could rise to 64 this year, says Mr D'Arcy.
Skills shortages
There are chronic skills shortages in a number of career areas which are outside the CAO applications procedure. Courses which cater for these shortages include apprenticeships, CERT traineeships and teleservices courses in the Post-Leaving Cert sector.
If you are interested in an apprenticeship, you must first seek an employer and then register with FAS.
CERT, the State tourism training agency, has a 24-hour careers hotline (1850 256 256) and a Website address www.cert.ie
Teleservices
Employment in teleservices is growing at such a pace the Government fears there won't be enough qualified people to fill the jobs. From no call centres in 1992, there are now about 60 such centres in the Republic.
To meet this need, a new two-year Post-Leaving Cert course has been developed. Last year, there were some 1,100 first-year places on the course, which is offered in PLC colleges around the Republic. Astonishingly, 361 of these were unfilled, despite a virtual guarantee of employment, with starting annual salaries in the region of £11,000 to £14,000.
The courses give students the opportunity to acquire information technology and communication skills as well as near-native fluency in a continental language. Students spend 17 weeks abroad on a work placement and there is a non-means-tested grant of up to £2,000 available to help with the costs of this placement. On successful completion of the course, students receive a National Council for Vocational Awards Level 3 qualification.
Places are not awarded on Leaving Cert points, but you must have a minimum of a grade B in both ordinary-level English and one continental language.
If you are interested in these courses telephone (01) 453 5487 and ask for the Teleservices Support Service.
Free tuition and a bursary
Dublin Business School, a private third-level college, has an open day this Friday from 2.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. There will be presentations on the college's courses. Information will also be available on the five scholarships open to full-time undergraduate students - these comprise free tuition and a £1,500 annual bursary.
Helpline
Students, parents and teachers with queries about colleges, courses and application procedures are invited to call the College Choice helpline between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. today. Phone (01) 679 2099.