Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 4: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress that has been made in reducing the level of restricted literacy to between 10% and 15% by 2016 following the commitment made in 2007, and without measurable indicators; the progress that has been made in achieving this target; the level of funding that has been provided to achieve this target; the progress beyond increased participation rates made in implementing the policy recommendations included in the White Paper on Adult Education 2000 and the National Development Plan 2002-2007 that has been achieved; and the impact on adult literacy levels of the increased investment in adult literacy since 1997. [8135/09]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for his reply but the figures he read out indicate that there is a natural reduction in expenditure per capita on adult literacy. We know from the 1997 OECD survey that 25% of the population is at the lowest literacy level. The Government has indicated that there has been an improvement in the relevant figure. It now claims that a reduced number of people — between 10% and 15% of those between the ages of 16 and 64 — are at the lowest literacy level. How do we know we are making progress? How can we be sure the figure has been reduced to between 10% and 15%? There has been no national evaluation of interventions aimed at improving literacy levels. In the absence of measurable indicators, how does the Minister of State know we are on course to achieve any of our goals? The measurement of progress was not recommended in the White Paper of 2000 or in the national development plan. How, therefore, can we know what has been achieved?

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I would like to think we have made significant progress in this area.

Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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How can it be measured?

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Burke spoke about funding. As I said earlier, funding in this area has increased from €1 million in 1997 to more than €30 million in 2008. The number of places has also increased significantly since 1997. I accept that we need new data. We are participating in the OECD survey to establish new data in this area. It should be pointed out that the survey that established that 500,000 people were at the lowest literacy levels was compiled in the mid-1990s. This figure is likely to have decreased considerably since then, as more than 300,000 people have availed of the literacy service in that time. The availability of free second-level education since 1967 means that the percentage of the population that has completed second-level education is now larger than it was in the 1990s. In the circumstances, I consider that the targets that have been set out in the various policy documents, including the national development plan, the programme for Government and the programme for social inclusion, are reasonable and may be even exceeded. We have made substantial progress. I have prioritised expenditure on adult literacy and lifelong learning in the context of the current difficult budgetary situation.

Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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The Minister of State claims to have prioritised adult literacy. The overall expenditure plans for 2009 provide for a fund of €420.5 million for further education and adult education and a fund of €43.6 million for special initiatives in adult education. From which of these funds will adult literacy be funded?

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that I administer a number of adult and further education schemes, including Youthreach, the back to education initiative and the adult literacy schemes. This country's serious and difficult financial position has meant that I have had to reduce the number of places being offered on some schemes, unfortunately, including Traveller training schemes and the back to education initiative. I made the retention of places in adult literacy programmes an absolute priority. The Government is giving serious consideration to matters like upskilling and lifelong learning in the context of the changed economic circumstances and the increase in unemployment. New policy initiatives in that regard may be announced in the coming weeks.

Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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From which fund is the provision being made?