TEACHERS' unions have called for extra funding for schools catering for pupils from disadvantaged areas, following the leaking of an EU report on early school leavers.
The report pointed out that some 20,000 pupils left school without qualifications, and that the majority of unemployed 15 to 24 year olds came from this group.
The president of the ASTI, Mr Tommy Francis, said such schools should be prioritised for specially targeted remedial provision, new curricula and additional trained staff.
The president of the TUI Mr Tony Deffely, criticised "the failure to put in place a structure that provides full time specialist teachers to meet disadvantaged students' needs. Part time teachers employed on a marginal basis are not the answer.
The National Association of Youthreach Workers called for alternative educational provision for those who leave school before the statutory school leaving age of 15 and must "walk the streets until they are 15 and eligible for Youthreach.
The Progressive Democrats spokeswoman on education. Ms Helen Keogh, criticised the Minister for Education's "headline grabbing" announcements of the abolition of third level fees and her policy priorities.
"The funding of primary and secondary level education is critical. If the foundations of education are not appropriately resourced, the resulting education system will be skewed," she said.
The National Youth Council of Ireland welcomed the report, adding: "We have witnessed bizarre proposals which have suggested that reductions in dole payments would solve the problem of youth unemployment. This report gets to the real root of the problem and should now be officially published."