Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 93: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if, in view of the multi-generational nature of learning and literacy difficulties here, the accompanying problems of low computer literacy, persistent early school leaving and literacy problems at primary level she is satisfied with her Department's response to these issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5793/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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A key focus of the Government's education policy is to prioritise investment in favour of those most at risk and to optimise access, participation and educational outcomes at every level of the system for disadvantaged groups. The Government's commitment to achieving the highest possible standards of literacy both for those in school and for adults of all ages is set in the context of the programme for Government, the national action plans against poverty and social exclusion, and social partnership agreements. Measures include systematically monitoring literacy attainment levels both in schools and among adults; ensuring that pupils with serious literacy difficulties in schools serving disadvantaged communities are supported in improving their attainment levels and providing opportunities for adult learners, particularly in the area of literacy.

Addressing low literacy levels is a key aspect of the new action plan for educational inclusion, DEIS — delivering equality of opportunity in schools, which I launched last year. The action plan aims to ensure that the educational needs of children and young people from disadvantaged communities are prioritised and effectively addressed. It will place a renewed emphasis on the teaching of literacy and numeracy skills in schools and will involve the implementation of a number of specific literacy and numeracy measures, with priority being given to implementation in the schools with the highest concentrations of disadvantage.

The plan provides for a standardised system for identifying levels of disadvantage and a new integrated school support programme, SSP. The school support programme will bring together a number of existing interventions in schools with a concentrated level of disadvantage and build upon them. Approximately 600 primary schools and 150 second level schools will be included in it. The new action plan will be introduced on a phased basis, starting during the current school year. It will involve an additional annual investment of €40 million on full implementation. It will also involve the provision of some 300 additional posts across the education system. The identification process for the new school support programme is nearing completion and my Department will issue an invitation to the schools selected for participation in the programme shortly.

A key underlying principle of DEIS is that of early intervention. It will focus on identifying and assisting children who are having difficulty with reading and writing at an early stage with the aim of preventing literacy difficulties from becoming entrenched. The measures involved will include a new advisory service for primary schools, more access to initiatives such as Reading Recovery, targeted extension of the successful demonstration library project at second level and a new family literacy project. In addition, the 150 urban/town primary schools with the highest concentrations of disadvantage will benefit from maximum class sizes of 20:1 in junior classes and 24:1 in senior classes.

Under the action plan, my Department will continue to progress the position as regards ICT in schools, with priority being given to supporting developments in schools serving disadvantaged communities. The major focus for my Department at present is the roll out of broadband connectivity to all recognised schools. This project is being undertaken in partnership with industry, following the establishment of a three year €18 million joint Government /IBEC — TIF telecommunications and Internet federation fund to fund local connectivity at school level.

The new action plan will place a renewed emphasis on the involvement of parents and families in children's education in schools. The Department and the National Educational Welfare Board, NEWB, will work together to ensure that an integrated approach to children at risk is adopted. The school completion programme, my Department's main programme for tackling the issue of early school leaving, will be integrated into the new school support programme under the action plan.

Progression from primary to second level is recognised as a crucial transition period in a child's education. Under the action plan, a continuing emphasis will be placed on the development of effective transfer programmes by building on the existing work of the home school community liaison scheme and the school completion programme.

My Department continues to support an expanding range of programmes and initiatives for adults who are experiencing literacy difficulties. Funding for adult literacy has been increased incrementally in recent years from just under €1 million in 1997 to over €22 million in 2005. Client numbers rose in the same period from 5,000 in 1997 to over 33,000 in 2004.