PEOPLE whose jobs in the construction industry might be at risk should consider applying for a college place or upgrading their skills, guidance counsellors have advised.

THE Central Applications Office has received a surge of forms from students notifying them of their course choices more than three weeks before the deadline.

SECOND-LEVEL students are being left without modern materials to perform tests that can help advise on careers, subject choices and difficulties with reading or maths due to inadequate government funding, guidance counsellors have claimed.

STUDENTS with learning disabilities could be forced to pay hundreds of euro for psychological assessments to support their third-level applications under rules being sought by colleges.

MORE than a third of the 45,000 people offered a college place by the Central Applications Office (CAO) have yet to accept, according to figures released last night.

STUDENTS used the internet in a record 56 countries to check their Leaving Certificate results yesterday.

THE mixed changes in overall results in most Leaving Certificate subjects are likely to have no significant impact on points requirements needed for college, when the first offers are made next week.

PARENTS and families of exam students have an important role in supporting those sitting the Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate over the coming weeks, according to the president of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors, Frank Mulvihill.

GUIDANCE counsellors must be given more time to help young people with career and subject choices if Government targets to meet economic requirements are to be met, a conference heard yesterday.

A SURGE in applications means that Leaving Certificate points for medicine are set to rise again this summer despite Government commitments to reduce the pressure on school leavers chasing places.

GREATER investment in all levels of education is needed if an ambitious plan to upskill the labour force for future economic needs can be achieved, the Government has been warned.

GROWING levels of mental-health problems associated with drink, drugs and marriage breakdowns are causing teenagers to fall behind or drop out of school, guidance counsellors have warned.

UP to 6,000 students may have been affected by delays in the Central Application Office’s (CAO) online application website this week which have prompted a major review of the system.

STUDENTS having trouble accessing the Central Applications Office (CAO) website to submit college course choices have been advised to remain patient.

STUDENTS with mental health issues in second-level schools are slipping through the net due to a shortage of personal counselling, an expert has warned.

AROUND 38,000 college places are up for grabs when the Central Applications Office (CAO) makes first round offers on Monday.

IRISH students who applied for places in colleges in Britain and the North have been advised to check if their applications were affected by systems problems there.