Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 91: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on the key findings of the recently published Succeeding in Reading report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5574/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The results of the "Succeeding in Reading" report are very encouraging in one respect as they show that Ireland's high reading standards have remained consistently high. I am concerned, however, about the poor reading achievement among many children attending school in disadvantaged areas. The Deputy may be aware that improving reading standards in disadvantaged schools is a core objective of the new action plan for delivering equality of opportunity in education, or DEIS. Under DEIS, successful initiatives such as the Reading Recovery intensive individualised teaching programme will be extended and a new family literacy project will be put in place. A key aspect of the programme will be an increased emphasis on planning and measuring outcomes to ensure that increased resources mean better outcomes for children.

Other striking findings of the "Succeeding in Reading" report are the important influence that parents have on their children's reading achievement and the importance of principals ensuring that the most experienced teachers are assigned to junior classes. I stressed this latter point in my address to the annual conference of the Irish Primary Principals Network last week.

With regard to the influence that parents have on their children's reading abilities, the survey highlights the long-term, positive effects of reading to children before they start school and regularly reading to them when they are in the Infant classes in primary school. It clearly shows that if parents read to their children at an early stage, the possibility that their children will have difficulty learning to read will be virtually eliminated. I therefore very much agree with the recommendation of the report that parents of pre-school children should be targeted by information campaigns, explaining the importance of reading to children and of providing reading resources in the home. I will give careful consideration to how my Department and schools can assist in improving parents' awareness of their role in developing their children as readers.

The "Succeeding in Reading" report provides valuable information to inform practice at school level and to inform policy development at national level.