The Republic has failed to meet an EU target of getting 90 per cent of its pupils to complete second-level education.
Under the arrangements for drawing down European Social Fund (ESF) money, the EU, in consultation with the Republic, set a target of 90 per cent, but has only managed to reach a completion rate of 81 per cent, according to documents seen by The Irish Times.
When asked by an EU committee which monitors ESF programmes and spending why the target was not being met, the Department of Education and Science said: "While extra teaching resources have been allocated there are still gaps in the system."
The rate of retention at second level has been increasing steadily since 1965, but still lags behind many EU states. The raising of the compulsory school leaving age from 15 to 16 - under provisions in the Education Welfare Bill currently going through the Oireachtas - will make a major difference in retaining pupils in the system.
The increasing trend of some young people to take jobs once they finish their Junior Certificate has also affected retention rates. The Minister for Education and Science, Dr Woods, told a conference recently that some employers were "poaching" school children because of the skill shortages in the economy.
The Department told the EU Monitoring Committee for Hum an Resources Development that the completion rate at second level would be helped by the appointment of extra psychologists and teaching posts. Approximately 1,300 additional teachers are expected to be recruited as part of the new national pay deal.
The Department told the committee that while the 90 per cent target was not being met, more than £57 million had been committed to tackle educational disadvantage over the next two years, which would help considerably.
The work of FAS was included in comments to the commission. For example, the Department said the agency had extended the number of places on its Early School Leavers scheme from 1,200 to 1,900.
"It is considered that the challenge of coping with the training demands of the economic boom are being met," the Department's representatives said.
Also included in the documents were comments from FAS that there was a new phenomenon where people already with jobs were availing of their services to find better employment.