Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Since my appointment as Minister of State with responsibility for Adult Education, it has been my mission to encourage and support any and all means of increasing literacy levels and basic education throughout the country. Adult Literacy has been the top priority in adult education in my Department for some years now.

Since 1997, funding from my Department for adult literacy has increased incrementally, from €1 million to almost €23 million in 2006. As a consequence, the number of clients catered for annually has increased from 5,000 in 1997 to over 35,000 in 2005.

The growth in the number of adult literacy students has exceeded the target of 18,000 annually set out in the National Development Plan 2000-2006.

This year my Department funded a pilot project on intensive tuition in adult basic education which would help to address the serious problem of adult literacy. The evaluation report of this project is currently being examined. In addition, a family literacy initiative under DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) — An Action Plan in Educational Inclusion is being developed.

Last Sunday, a new TV series "The Really Useful Guide to Words and Numbers" commenced on national television. This programme will target people with literacy and numeracy needs.

"Towards 2016 — Ten Year Framework Social Partnership Agreement 2006 — 2015" includes a further increase in literacy student numbers of 7,000 (6% per annum) over a three-year period to 2009 and also 2,000 BTEI places which will continue to build on existing part-time provision in adult literacy and other Further Education programmes. These additional resources are to be welcomed.

I am currently examining the Report on Adult Literacy in Ireland published by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Science. The 28 recommendations included in the report will be considered in the context of the overall policy of making further improvements in literacy provision nationwide as resources permit.

While significant progress has been, and continues to be, made in addressing the problem of adult literacy, I strongly believe in the value of this sector and am committed to a continuation of the process of substantially reducing the literacy deficit in Irish society by continuing to prioritise it for resources and supports in the years ahead.