School league tables have nothing to do with schools and 'have no place in a Republic'.
Newstalk Breakfast host Shane Coleman was speaking as students from fee-paying schools continue to dominate in terms of sending pupils to college, according to this year's Feeder Schools' Report.
This is followed by Irish-medium schools or Gaelcholáistí, non-DEIS schools and DEIS schools.
School-leavers in disadvantaged areas have progressed in record numbers as well.
In 2023, participation rates for school leavers of DEIS schools went back up to 63%, following a slight drop to 60% last year.
Shane said he thinks parents shouldn't pay any attention to the tables.
"If you have a child in primary school don't bother pouring over the league tables," he said.
"They tell you nothing that we don't already know.
"I hate the league tables, I hate what they stand for - I actually think they have no place in a Republic.
"I also think that they're totally pointless... it focuses completely on the wrong thing.
"It focuses on the school: it is nothing to do with the school.
"What dictates whether or not you go to college is your background".
'Class and background'
Shane said middle-class students who want to go to college are "highly likely" to get there.
"If you're working class and you want to go to college, or it's a possibility, it's no more than a possibility," he said.
"That is the reality... it is class and your background that determines whether you go to college.
"This kind of muddies the water and it glorifies certain schools".
'Frame of reference'
Host Jonathan Healy said the tables can be helpful for some people.
"Parents need a frame of reference, they need to have an idea of what the schools are like," he said.
"If they didn't go to school in a particular area where they're living, they mightn't know what that school is like.
"There are some schools that just aren't great and that can be a number of different factors.
"You do need to work out 'Is School A better than School B?'
"I went on to the Department of Education's website this morning... they're almost impossible to read.
"Parents are time poor, they need a frame of reference," he added.
Shane said that he believes these league tables are about selling newspapers.
