Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

The target set is for achievement by the year 2016 and progress will have to be judged in that time frame. The Government's commitment to achieving the target is evident from the increased investment in this area.

Annual funding for adult literacy has increased from €1 million in 1997 to over €30 million in 2008. In the same period the annual number of participants has increased from 5,000 to almost 49,000. Targets in the national development plan have consistently been met or exceeded. In line with commitments in Towards 2016 and the programme for Government 3,000 additional places were provided in 2007. Due to the difficult budgetary position it has not been possible to provide for any further increase in places.

Ireland is participating in the initial development work and feasibility study for a new survey to be carried out by the OECD entitled the programme for international assessment of adult competencies, PIAAC. This survey of adult competencies, including literacy and numeracy, is due to be completed in 2013. Participation in the main study will be decided on the basis of the results of the development work and feasibility study and the availability of resources. PIAAC can provide data that can be compared to the data in the last survey of adult literacy in Ireland, conducted in 1995.

Several different initiatives have also been developed to tackle adult literacy. These include the intensive tuition in adult basic education programme which provides up to six hours of tuition per week to learners, instead of the normal two hours; a family literacy pilot scheme to address poor literacy from an intergenerational family perspective; and a workplace literacy programme, the return to learning scheme, in all local authority areas for outdoor workers.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

Participants in community employment schemes can avail of intensive literacy tuition provided by the vocational education committees, VECs. There are other special funding projects, including literacy for deaf people, for people with dyslexia and for native Irish speakers in Gaeltacht areas. In partnership with the National Adult Literacy Agency my Department has provided funding for several successful TV series to raise awareness of adult literacy issues.

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