The Education Minister Jan O'Sullivan says the rising failure rate for higher level maths is not out of line with other Leaving Certificate subjects. 

Almost 58,000 Leaving Certificate students have received their exam results at schools around the country.

One student in the country has achieved nine A1s, while eight have got 8 A1s.

Some subjects with increasing student numbers are chemistry (a 3.9% increase from 2014), physics (a 4.6% increase) and applied mathematics (a 12.5% increase).

In Irish, there has been a 7.3% increase in the percentage of students sitting higher level.

The 15 subjects with the highest participation rates are unchanged from last year, and are topped by maths, English and Irish.

While 27.4% of candidates sat the higher level maths paper.

The proportion of students failing high level maths has risen for the third year in a row.

Almost one-third of candidates sat the higher level paper this year, and the failure rate has risen to 5.2% - up from 4.2% last year.

Minister O'Sullivan says she will keep the maths results under review.

But she insists the failure rate is within norms. And she told Newstalk Lunchtime she is happy with this year's results.

Among the tens of thousands who got their results today was one of this year's youngest Rose of Tralee contestants.

Wicklow Rose 18-year-old Megan Swart is touring Co Leitrim today, in the run up to the big competition.

She told reporters earlier how she did.

These students at Castletroy College in Limerick were delighted with their results.

While students who did not get the results they wanted are being advised to ask their career guidance teachers to outline what options are open to them.

Irish Times education correspondent Joe Humphreys says there are a number of alternatives.

Students and parents seeking more information on options can call the freephone helpline on 1800-265-165.

The service, operated by eircom, is open from 10.00am to 7.00pm.