The Minister for Education and Science, Mr Dempsey has played down the significance of the high failure rate in maths in this year's Leaving Cert results.
Commenting on the fact that one in five students cannot apply to third level colleges because of failing maths, Mr Dempsey said: "We don't want 100 per cent of our students applying to third level. It would not be good for our economy".
Eamon O' Murchu from Carlow pictured today with his eight A1s in the Leaving Cert. Eamon, who attends the Gaelcholaiste Cheatharlach, did seven of the exams in Irish.
He said: "We need people to work in the construction industry, in the tourism industry and to fill apprenticeships."
Mr Dempsey said that the exams were about students fulfilling their individual potential and claimed "not everyone is destined to be a rocket scientist or a mathematician".
He said he was bemused by the "fixation" on this year's maths and science results.
More than 58,700 Leaving Cert students received their results today with high failure rates in maths and science subjects a striking feature.
Over 11 per cent of students failed ordinary-level or higher-level maths while 5,800 more sat the foundation-level maths exam, which is not accepted by most third-level colleges.
However, there were some positive aspects to the math results. Almost 16 per cent of pupils who sat ordinary level maths will receive an A grade a 5 per cent increase in the number of pupils achieving the highest grades while almost a quarter of students who took ordinary level Applied Maths achieved an A1, double that of 2003.
Some 30 per cent failed ordinary level combined Physics and Chemistry, 10 per cent more than last year. Students sitting physics saw a 2 per cent rise in A1 grades at both levels.
Almost one in six students failed ordinary level biology.
Mr Dempsey today congratulated students, parents and teachers.
Advising students to keep the results in perspective, he said: "This can be a time of celebration, relief and anxiety as many school leavers consider their future."
He also urged students to consider careers in the science and technology fields. "I would ask students who have performed well in the subjects in the examinations to think carefully about choosing courses in the Science, Engineering and Technology sectors," he said.
"These areas offer qualifications which are in high demand with good career prospects, and are critically important to support the growth of high value knowledge based industries in Ireland."
The President of the ASTI, Ms Susie Hall, said there are far more varied options for further education now than there have ever been.
"While accepting that the Leaving Certificate is a major milestone, students and parents should realise that there are many different avenues to achieving career goals," she said.
As popularity for third level maths and science courses continues to plummet, the points requirement has also fallen, raising concerns about increasing failure and drop out rates.
Demand for such courses continues to decline and experts predict that students with fewer than 280 points will be able to secure places on degree courses in this area.
Almost 20 per cent of students received the highest level A1 grade for ordinary level history, often regarded as one of the most difficult Leaving Cert exams. Some 17 per cent failed.
Four students received eight A1 grades, matching last year's record.
The exam results will be available from this morning in schools. From noon today they can also be accessed by phone or on the Internet. Students will need their PIN number and exam number. The phone number is 1530-719290. The website is www.examinations.ie
A National Parents Council exam helpline is open from 8am today until 10pm on August 20th and then opens again from August 23rd - 27th. The freephone number is 1800 265 165.
Candidates who want to view their examination scripts should request an application form from their school and forward it to the State Examinations Commission, Cornamaddy, Athlone, Co Westmeath before August 24th.
School based candidates who wish to appeal their results should do so through the school. External candidates should follow the instructions which are included with their results.
All appeal applications must be received by the State Examination Commission no later than 5.30pm on Wednesday September 8th.
CAO points figures will be published next Monday.