Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Ms Bailey and Ms Phelan. I reiterate what Deputy McConalogue has said about the positive impact of the campaign and advocacy work they have been doing for many years. Could they expand a little on the point Ms Bailey made about intensive learning options? We know that the course options available to people are not sufficiently broad. Do we have the infrastructure to provide the additional courses that are needed? I presume many of them would be provided through the education and training boards. Are the boards equipped from an infrastructural perspective to tackle the issue of adult literacy and numeracy?

Ms Bailey also spoke about the need for employers to engage with low-skilled workers in line with international best practice and policy. They mentioned that there were examples in the US, New Zealand and Britain. What has been their experience with Irish employers?

Much of the document presented by the witnesses focuses on literacy issues. What steps do we need to take to deal with numeracy issues?

I will conclude by asking about the new system of apprenticeships that is being introduced. I firmly believe that literacy and numeracy need to be incorporated into every apprenticeship that is to be rolled out under the new model. If one is going to be a carpenter or a bricklayer, one will need a basic level of literacy and numeracy. In addition to teaching people the actual skills they need to enter the workforce, we should provide for an opportunity to address some literacy and numeracy issues a part of that training and apprenticeship. Do the witnesses agree with that analysis? Our approach to these matters should be about lifelong learning. We should not be suggesting that when one finishes education, that is it.