In a fresh attempt to widen college access, six of the State's seven universities and the DIT have set up a separate third level entry system for pupils from disadvantaged schools.
It is understood about 700 places will be made available annually under the scheme.
Described as a "mini-CAO", it will allow students from about 150 disadvantaged second-level schools to gain college places without necessarily having the required CAO points. Known as direct entry, the new system will involve eligible students applying through a centralised system which will be shared among the colleges.
The colleges are using the new system and mechanisms such as direct entry so that those pupils are not prevented from attending third-level by high points requirements. While many will have good Leaving Cert results, others who fail to reach the required CAO points levels could still be admitted.
The colleges retain the right to admit the students and to control what courses they are al lowed into. Some colleges in re cent years have admitted small numbers of disadvantaged students by direct entry, but the arrangement is now formalised.
Under the system, the students will be able to list the colleges they want to attend in order. If their favourite college cannot offer a place, other institutions are entitled to offer one instead.
Only pupils attending one of 150 so-called "link" schools, which are classified by the colleges as disadvantaged, will be eligible. The classifications are based on Department of Education statistics.
Mr Kevin Ryan, vice-president (academic) at the University of Limerick, said universities were happy to collaborate on the scheme and they hoped it would make college entry easier for disadvantaged students.
Ms Aine Galvin, co-ordinator of UCD's access programme, said: "In effect we have formed a mini-CAO system for students who would be eligible for support." It would allow the students "to target any opportunities" at colleges which suited them most.
Putting concepts such as direct entry on such a formal footing could prove controversial. In a report last year from the Higher Education Authority, it was disclosed that some academics were worried that admitting disadvantaged students with lower CAO points could dilute academic standards. Many are also concerned the students could drop out.
However, college access officers say their programmes are carefully vetted and every student admitted in this way is interviewed. School principals are also heavily involved and they often vouch for the students involved.
The Union of Students in Ireland last night welcomed the move but said many issues still needed to be addressed. Its education officer, Mr Colm Jordan, said many schools were not officially classified as disadvantaged and had no links with the colleges involved.
"There is clearly a need for a national framework of access programmes. This system would accept students on the basis of individual circumstances rather than the status of their school".
"It is also not enough to simply accept students into third level and then refuse to give them adequate support. We are disgusted and appalled that the Minister for Education has yet to implement the additional grant payments for poorer students which he promised last September to have in place by January 2001," he added.
