A failure to develop programmes to tackle educational disadvantage has been blamed for the high rate of schools drop-out in deprived areas.
A Department of Education report published today showed 8 per cent of second-level schools have a pre-Leaving Cert drop-out rate of 50 per cent or more. But Education Minister Mary Hanafin defended the retention results and the Government's provision of a post-Junior Cert education for young people.
"It is important to recognise that the report deals only with retention within the State-aided schooling system.
"It does not take account of important educational pathways outside this system such as Youthreach and apprenticeship training," she said.
"The Government has taken a number of initiatives in recent years to tackle the issue of early school leaving, including the setting up of the National Education Welfare Board and supports under the School Completion Programme and Home School Community Liaison Scheme."
The report, the second published by the Department of Education and Science on school retention, tracked the progress of more than 64,000 students at 720 schools who began their Junior Cert cycle in September 1996.
Secondary schools had the highest retention rates with an average of 82 per cent, while vocational schools retained 68 per cent of their students through to Leaving Cert and community and comprehensive schools had an average of 76 per cent.
"This unacceptable level of early school leaving reflects the Government's absolute inaction in tackling educational disadvantage," Labour's Seanad spokesperson on Education, Joanna Tuffy said.
"Programmes which have helped address educational disadvantage have not been expanded upon by the Government, programmes such as the Early Start Programme or Breaking the Cycle introduced by [Labour minister] Niamh Bhreathnach when she was Minister for Education," she added.
The figures, based on the progress of 64,000 students after they left school in the mid-90s, reveal that some schools had drop-out rates of over 60 per cent, with Dublin the worst-affected area. Two schools in the capital an one in Limerick had pre-Junior Cert drop-out rate of around 40 per cent.
General secretary of the second-level teachers union the Asti, John White, said the poor retention rates reflected "gross under-investment in Irish second level education".
He said Ireland was 21st out of 27 OECD countries in terms of spending per second level student. "This percentage of funding is nowhere near other countries and steps must be taken in the forthcoming budget to redress this imbalance," Mr White said.
The report also showed 11.7 per cent more girls were staying on for Leaving Cert compared to boys. It noted this reflected a general trend among OECD countries, "although only 4 countries have a gap as large as Ireland".