Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

I am taking this Adjournment debate on behalf of my colleague Deputy Seán Haughey, Minister of State with responsibility for lifelong learning. I thank Deputy Costello for raising this issue.

The acquisition of adequate literacy skills is necessary for adults to derive any benefit from any education or training course they want or need to engage in. Adult literacy, in addition to reading and writing, now extends to such basic education as numeracy, social and personal development, learning to learn and IT skills. I refer to those generic skills that enable people to deal with challenges that spring up without warning, the core skills that enable people to exercise judgment or to think laterally; and the key competencies that enable innovation and creativity. In effect, we need to give people skills for life and these skills will enable them to make their own choices about what they want to do with their lives.

Adult literacy has been a priority in further and adult education for some years. During the past decade the level of Government investment in literacy programmes has tripled from €10 million to €30 million per annum. The level of participation has also increased from 17,000 annually to almost 50,000. Despite our economic difficulties, we have managed to maintain funding at consistent levels in recent years at €30 million which the Minister of State will endeavour to maintain in the years to come.

As the Department has funded adult literacy programmes for many years, it has funded the Dublin Adult Learning Centre which provides adult literacy and basic education services for adult learners in the north inner city from its base in Mountjoy Square. The Department's funding is channelled through City of Dublin VEC. In 2009 the Department provided more than €1 million, which level of funding was maintained in 2010. In addition, the centre will receive approximately €400,000 this year from FÁS under the community employment scheme, the aim of which remains as an active labour market programme, with the emphasis on progression into employment or further education and training. The programme is managed within this context, with consideration being given to the availability of resources and the needs of participants and the community. In the centre, the scheme aims to provide literacy and communication skills for long-term unemployed persons in the north inner city.

The Minister of State wants to acknowledge the important role played by the main provider of literacy tuition, the VECs, and wishes to acknowledge the work done by the staff of the centre. While we have maintained funding during the years, we have not stood still. We have developed and enhanced the service. New awards have been developed at levels 1 and 2, while awards at levels 3 and 4 have been revamped and updated. Core skills and key competencies are fundamental parts of these new and updated awards.

A nationwide adult guidance service, located in and operated by VECs, is available. It is targeted at those learners who need our adult literacy and other adult education programmes. The Department has also funded family literacy initiatives across the country which provide inter-generational learning opportunities. It funds intensive literacy options and workplace-based literacy schemes which seek to engage with low qualified workers who may be vulnerable to unemployment. There are specially targeted literacy programmes for those in need of particular literacy services, for example, deaf people, people with dyslexia and native Irish speakers in Gaeltacht areas. We also fund specific programmes for refugees providing literacy and other basic education programmes to assist them integrate into Irish society. Funding has also been provided for NALA to develop a number of television series promoting literacy services and highlighting the needs of learners.

Another positive development for Ireland is our participation in the OECD programme for the international assessment of adult competencies. The Central Statistics Office is acting as the national project manager and the field trial has gone very well in terms of response rates. The results of the survey are scheduled to be available in 2012 or 2013.

The Minister of State wishes to emphasise the Government's commitment to the provision of literacy opportunities for learners and will continue to fund the sector as resources permit. I again thank the Deputy for raising the matter.

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