Over three-quarters of Cavan students have been offered college places in the first round of CAO college place offers. Some 871 students out of a total 1,228 with addresses in the county were offered places at various third-level colleges and universities around the country last week.

The news comes after the deadline for first-round offers closed last week with national figures indicating over 37,500 applicants had accepted what was on offer. While CAO applications were down slightly this year, there was a record number of offers from colleges.

A total of 76,073 applicants applied to the CAO for college places in 2012, and those who did not receive an offer of a place in round one must wait for round two offers, which will be available on the CAO website from 6am on Thursday, the deadline for accepting an offer in round two closing on Wednesday, September 5.

CAO points for many courses, particularly in science and IT programmes, have risen to their highest level for decades and in the first round of college offers published last week, a record 56% of all higher degree university courses increased in points needed.

Locally, Cavan Institute has once again reported a record number of applicants for their college places this year.

CEO of the VEC Colm McEvoy said, "They're enrolling at the moment and that will continue for the rest of this week.

"Once again they're very heavily subscribed for the number of applicants for places and suffice to say they've more applicants than places available.

"There are numerous new courses available and a big uptake. It has been the same situation over the past number of years and it shows that the college is going well, it's going from strength to strength and there is a growing demand for the courses it provides."