A survey in Tallaght, Co Dublin, shows that 20 per cent of 14- to 18-year-olds in one parish were early school-leavers. Half had left without doing their Junior Certificate examination.
The majority were boys. Asked why they left early, more than a quarter of the 201 surveyed said they had been asked to leave.
The researcher, Ms Janice Kelly, found a strong correlation between early school-leaving and criminal activity, with 73 per cent of early school-leavers having committed an offence, compared to 46 per cent of those who remained in school.
In addition, 63 per cent of the early school-leavers were taking drugs. One-fifth of them were using heroin. Asked about the main activity they engaged in with friends, 47 per cent cited "hanging around". This was followed by frequenting pubs.
The Minister of State for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Mr Chris Flood, said early school-leaving was a key factor in whether one went on to use heroin.
"I'm particularly concerned that young people, because of social or domestic difficulties, find themselves increasingly excluded from the classroom. We have to develop new and imaginative ways to make sure they remain within the education system so they have the same chance as the rest of us." A pilot project has been set up in response to the study to provide an outreach service to equip young people with resources to prevent them becoming involved in anti-social behaviour.
The study was carried out in St Dominic's parish, which has a population of 6,000.