Lack of funds blamed for axing school leavers survey

A SURVEY that has previously highlighted government failures to reduce the number of young people dropping out of school is to be axed by the Department of Education.

The Irish Examiner has learned that senior department officials cited the €250,000 cost of the School Leavers Survey (SLS) as the reason for discontinuing its support.

The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) conducted the survey of school leavers every year from 1980 to 1999, and in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2007.