Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 35: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she is satisfied that the fundamental elements of the White Paper on adult education, Learning for Life, published in 2000, have been realised. [13779/06]

Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The White Paper on adult education, Learning for Life, published in July 2000, addressed second chance and further education, community education, workplace education, higher education, support services, co-operation with the North and structures.

Provision in second chance and further education continues to expand in size and flexibility and one of its key priorities is adult literacy. Expenditure on adult literacy increased from €1 million in 1997, to €10.6 million in 2000 and in 2006 to more than €23 million. Literacy students have increased from 17,000 in 2000, to approximately 34,000 in 2006. The National Development Plan 2000-2006 anticipated that 110,000 people would participate in the adult literacy programme. This target has been exceeded.

The back to education initiative introduced in 2002 provides learners with a part-time option aimed at providing flexible learning opportunities for adults and has 7,000 part-time places. Annual expenditure on this is of the order of €16 million.

Such full time programmes as Youthreach, the vocational training opportunities scheme, post-leaving certificate courses and senior Traveller training catered for the needs of approximately 40,000 learners in 2005.

Expenditure on community education has increased from €1.3 million in 2000 to €9 million in 2006. In addition, 10% of the back to education initiative budget is allocated to the community education strand and 36 community education facilitators employed by VECs support a wide range of community groups.

In higher education the non-adjacent or higher rate of maintenance grant is payable in the case of all mature students who qualify either as a dependant or as an independent mature student.

The provision of guidance services has increased from €700,000 in 2000 to €5 million in 2006. The 35 adult education guidance initiatives provide information, advice and guidance to learners or potential learners who wish to become involved in adult literacy, VTOS and community education.

In 2003, the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland launched the national framework of qualifications with its ten-level grid of level indicators. This framework enables learners to access, transfer and progress along the full education spectrum.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

The Further Education and Training Awards Council, FETAC, and Higher Education and Training Awards Council, HETAC, make awards to learners on a large range of programmes offered by many different providers. To ensure confidence in the awards a quality assurance system has been established.

There is continuing co-operation between officials North and South on aspects of common interest, for example adult literacy.

The White Paper provided for the establishment of a national adult learning council which was established as an ad hoc council in 2002. However, concerns emerged that the functions envisaged for the council were too wide-ranging and were not sufficiently focused. A review of the council has been undertaken and its findings are under consideration within the Department.

Much progress has been made in addressing the programme set out in the White Paper and the Government is committed to building further on this progress.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister for her lengthy reply. I accept there has been more investment in this area, but we are coming from a low base. Six years after the publication of the White Paper, we still await progress on some fundamental issues. The national adult learning council, NALC, was set up following a recommendation of the White Paper but for some reason was set aside. Does the Minister accept there is need for clear leadership in this sector? Does she propose to recall NALC? Many of its board members were not even interviewed prior to its disbandment.

With regard to the literacy programme, yesterday the deaf community launched a week of events on the Irish sign language. Literacy arose as an issue at the launch of one of yesterday's events, Signing on and Signing out, the report of which pointed out that in terms of the deaf community as a whole the majority of deaf adults have only the same literacy skills as an eight year old. Unfortunately, this is the base we come from. It was also pointed out that people do not make progress in terms of the leaving and junior certificate. These are difficulties for this sector of the community.

The OECD report indicated that 500,000 Irish adults score on the lowest literacy level. Does the Minister accept that we need a new literacy survey to get an accurate picture of the number of adults with literacy problems and of how effectively they are being dealt with?

Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I agree with the Deputy. The OECD survey carried out in 1997 was frightening in that it showed that 500,000 people here have only a basic level of literacy or less. That is the reason literacy was made a top priority not alone in the White Paper but also in Government and why we have seen the significant increase in moneys to deal with literacy levels, from €1 million in 1997 to €23 million this year.

The Deputy is right in saying that some marginalised groups need extra attention. I am well aware that groups such as non-nationals need particular assistance in this area because English is not their mother tongue. Specific emphasis has also been given to the question of literacy for the deaf community. I am well aware of the need to progress that agenda further.

It is also important to realise that there has been a tremendous uptake of the literacy programmes. People often feel inadequate because of their lack of literacy skills and we must give them the confidence to come forward and access the programmes that are available. The television and radio programmes have been the most effective in helping people with literacy problems. That is why we have had four RTE "Read Write Now" series, which have been particularly successful. The National Adult Literacy Agency, the Irish Vocational Education Association, the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland and RTE are working together to develop a multimedia approach to the literacy campaign, which will help everyone. Details on that will be announced shortly.

It is important to examine the question of workplace literacy. At the moment, more women than men take up literacy programmes. Perhaps one way of getting in touch with men who need assistance with regard to literacy is through the workplace. In that context, I am glad to say there is tremendous co-operation between the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and my Department. I arranged for the National Adult Literacy Agency to meet officials from the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment and on foot of that, we secured an extra €3 million of that Department's budget to deal with literacy in the workplace. A great deal has yet to be done but the work has begun. There is a literacy programme available to county council workers who work outdoors and some hospitals and trade unions have also begun literacy programmes.

There is still a great deal to do, however. The White Paper recognises that this is a problem as does the Government. That is why we have poured money into this approach to ensure that programmes are available and support is given to staff and tutors.