Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy is correct in saying that the national development plan and the programme for Government target further education. Both those documents commit to continue to invest in adult literacy and to increase the investment in adult learning generally. Certain statistics, particularly those from the OECD, prove that Ireland has not done badly in terms of literacy. However, the Government has placed specific emphasis on the need to address adult learning, lifelong learning and specifically adult literacy. Consequently we have been able to increase the number and types of courses including a very welcome and successful course through the "Read Write Now" series on television, which I hope will shortly commence its fifth series.

The Deputy asked specifically about literacy programmes within the workplace. NALA has pinpointed the need for this and studies in other countries, such as Sweden, have proved that this is appropriate. This is certainly the direction we wish to take. Studies have been carried out to determine how we can best approach the question of adult literacy. We have increased funding from £1 million in 1997 to €19 million in 2004. We hope to be able to further promote adult literacy in the workplace particularly and we are working with NALA in this regard.

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