Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

I commend the Minister for Education and Science on providing laptop computers for schools. Backup infrastructure will be required to implement the laptop policy but I welcome the decision because it will further move us into the smart economy.

The supplementary report on the findings and recommendations of the National Economic and Social Forum explored the connection between child literacy and social inclusion and asked why literacy levels remained low among pupils in disadvantaged areas. Given that a national policy framework on literacy is about to be launched, we have a golden opportunity to discuss the reasons the barriers to literacy remain, even after concentrating on the issue for 25 years.