A new report shows that 51 per cent of fathers of babies born to teenagers are in touch with the mother of their child.
A study of 145 mothers by the Teen Parents Support Programme revealed that the father was the main source of support in just 10 per cent of cases.
It was conducted between July and December of 2005. In 18 per cent of cases, parents were equally as supportive as the father. Of the mothers not married or living with the father, 47 per cent said that contact was regular.
"Not as many of the fathers are present as we would like," said Margaret Morris, national co-ordinator of the programme, although she said there was sometimes involvement through the paternal grandparents.
"The TPSP believes that it is in the best interest of children to be in touch with both parents," she said.
Some 30 per cent of the 145 mothers had not sat their Leaving Certificate when they contacted the programme. The Junior Certificate was the highest level of education reached by 55 of them.
"There's a strong correlation between early parenthood and early school leaving," said Ms Morris. She said that leaving school early was a cause and consequence of teenage parenthood and that teenagers who stayed in school during their pregnancy were more likely to finish their education.
Fifty-five per cent of the mothers saw pregnancy as a major crisis in their life.
"Teen parenthood is a particularly vulnerable time and is a source of concern because of the potentially poor life outcomes generally associated with it," said Ms Morris
The number of women under 20 giving birth has decreased since 2000, according to the first report of the Teen Parents Support Programme.
Central Statistics Office figures included in the report show that 2,560 women under 20 gave birth in 2004 as opposed to 3,135 in 2000. Seventy-four per cent of teenagers who gave birth in 2004 were aged 18 and 19. Two per cent of births were to mothers aged 15 and under.
Ms Morris said that the overall decrease between 2000 and 2005 could be attributed to better sex education and an easier availability of contraception.
The programme was set up in 1999 by the Department of Health and supports teenage parents who contact them until their child is two.
There are five programmes around the country in Dublin north, Dublin west, Galway, Limerick and Louth. Three more programmes are currently being established in Carlow, Cork and Donegal.