In a survey carried out by the National Council for Curriculum Assessment last January on the destination of the 1996 to 1998 LCA graduates, it was found that 91 per cent went on to work or further education.

According to the survey of 941 students:

38 per cent went directly into employment;

22 per cent had taken up places on Post Leaving Cert courses;

19 per cent had begun apprenticeships;

12 per cent had begun courses with CERT, Teagasc and other education and training bodies;

4 per cent were seeking employment;

5 per cent were unavailable for work or their destination was unknown.

The survey was undertaken in January and February of last year, at least six months after the graduates had left school. Sixty-three schools participated in the survey.

Of those 348 graduates who entered employment, a further breakdown shows that 136 were employed in the area of services and sales, 54 in manufacturing and mining industries, 38 in building and construction, 28 in agriculture, forestry and fisheries, while 19 entered employment in commerce, finance and the public services.