The Department of Education and Skills does not hold the information requested by the Deputy.
Higher education institutions (HEIs) are autonomous with regard to management of their academic affairs including admissions procedures. The CAO process applications on behalf of the HEIs and information on these applications is held by the CAO, not by the Department.
According to figures available on their website, 72,973 applications were received by the CAO as of February 2020. However there is not information given on the breakdown of these applications, which will also include applicants who are not doing the Leaving Certificate this year. Further queries on these figures should be sent directly to the CAO, contact details for which can be found on their website www.cao.ie.