Gay Mitchell (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 115: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the statistics available for adult literacy; the way in which Ireland compares in an international context; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13334/06]

Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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No international comparative surveys of adult literacy levels have been carried out in the last ten years. However, a major priority has been given by the Government to improving adult literacy rates nationally. The White Paper on Adult Education, Learning for Life, published in 2000, identifies adult literacy as the top priority in adult education. Since 1997, funding from my Department for adult literacy has incrementally increased from €1 million then to €23 million in 2006. As a consequence, the numbers of clients catered for annually have increased from 5,000 to 35,000 over the same period. The National Development Plan 2000-2006 anticipated that 110,000 people would participate in the adult literacy programme. This target has been exceeded. Literacy tuition has been made available through television and radio; a national referral directory of adult literacy services has been published; specially targeted literacy programmes, such as family learning programmes, literacy and language for non-nationals, programmes for special needs and for Travellers and for Gaeltacht people, have been provided; a workplace literacy programme has been introduced in all local authority areas for outdoor workers; professionalisation of the literacy service has been increased through provision of staff development programmes for literacy organisers and tutors; an intensive adult literacy tuition programme for people with severe literacy needs has been introduced on a pilot basis; and a quality framework for the adult literacy service has been developed and an assessment framework has been introduced.