Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I have a query about the CSO statistics that have been mentioned. Statistics from the PISA results, etc., show that we are improving. Those who are children when one year's statistics are produced will eventually become adults when another year's statistics are being drawn up. I believe for that reason that there must be some kind of change. I presume the CSO does not test people's abilities. Its results are based on surveys. I ask the witnesses to clarify whether that is the case.

I would like to pick up on the point that was made by other Deputies about intensive courses. I wonder what is meant by "intensive." How can we get people to do such courses? I recently attended a conference in Dublin Castle at which the Right to Read campaign was discussed. I am sure the witnesses were present at it. I was struck by an impressive presentation that was given by a princess from Holland. Unfortunately, I cannot remember her name. She seemed to be very passionate about this matter. She has done a great deal of work on it. It seemed from what she was saying that the Dutch authorities have done a great deal of work on outreach. That point may have applied to Denmark, now that I think of it. She was suggesting that outreach services have achieved a great deal of success by going to workplaces to capture people. I do not think we are doing enough of that kind of work here. Maybe it is happening, but I certainly do not see it. I ask the witnesses to comment on the agency's work in that regard. How is it funded? How much of the funding that has been mentioned goes to the agency itself? What does the agency use it for?