CAO Update

2 October 2026

Dear Guidance Counsellor/Principal,

I hope this email finds you well. Just a short note to update you on a few items in advance of the 2027 application season.

1. CAO Handbook 2027

The postal mailing to schools containing 5 CAO Handbooks, a CAO poster and letter, and the HEAR DARE application literature was distributed last month. To view the accompanying letter, please go to the Schools Message Board in the ‘Guidance/Schools’ section of the website. If you go to www.cao.ie/handbook you can view the PDF as well as the condensed PDFs (by level) of 2027 course listings.

The 2027 personalised handbook is also available at handbook.cao.ie

2. 2027 Guidance Counsellor Resources

The 2027 website will go live in early November, with applications commencing from noon on 5 November. In the Guidance/Schools section of the website, we have updated some of the resources that you may find useful, e.g. presentations and posters. You can locate these resources in the interim by going to the Guidance Counsellor Resources section and clicking on the 2027 tab. The remaining resources will be updated and available from 5 November on the 2027 version of the website. To improve accessibility, the Information Sheets and some other resources will be generated as HTML files as opposed to PDF.

3. AOA/CAO/IGC November Conferences

The provisional dates for the 2026 November Conferences, in association with the Institute of Guidance Counsellors and the Higher Education Institutions, are:

• 3 November – Kingsley Hotel, Cork
• 4 November – Clayton Hotel, Limerick
• 6 November - Online Webinar
• 10 November – Johnstown Estate, Enfield
• 11 November – Sligo Park Hotel, Sligo

Full details and an online registration link will be available on the CAO website (Guidance/Schools section) from 6 October at noon. Online registration will close on 23 October at midnight.

4. CAO Online Information Evening for Students and Parents/Guardians

An online information evening for Students and Parents, in association with the Institute of Guidance Counsellors and Admissions Officers from Higher Education Institutions, will take place on Thursday, 15 October at 6pm. Registration for this event is now open at www.cao.ie/webinar

I look forward to meeting you all at an upcoming event in November.