"It's a great day for all of those who sat the exam and it's a day of relief I think for everyone in the family, and the extended family, that at last the journey is over and they've got their results. And I want to congratulate all of them, and the support that families have given to sons and daughters, and nieces and nephews," says Minister for Education, Ruairí Quinn.

His comments come as the wait for the 55,572 Leaving Certificate candidates who sat exams in June draws to a close. Those numbers actually represent a drop in the number of candidates sitting the tests this year, with candidates in their lowest numbers since 2007.

One student received nine A1s - while 161 others got six A1s or more.

The uptake for Higher Level Maths increased to a record level.

Over 13,000 or one in four candidates sat Higher Level Maths - the highest figure ever. 

The State Examinations Commission is again apologising for an error in the maths paper - which it says was taken into account during marking.

Results are available for collection in schools from 9am - and by phone or on the examinations.ie website from midday.

The Education Minister Ruairí Quinn is welcoming the increase, "They have been rewarded as a result, with an extra 25 points, if they've applied for a college course - so that system is working, and it's an improvement on last year."

The numbers taking Higher Level Irish is also up - following an increase in the marks allocated for the oral component.

The first round of college offers will be available on the CAO website from 6am next Monday morning.

Meanwhile gardaí, Alcohol Action Ireland and Drink Aware are all appealing to students to celebrate the results sensibly.