Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 156: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the funds which have been allocated to the proposed family literacy project; if targets have been set for the project; the way they will be measured; when it is expected that the project will be implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38291/06]

Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The national adult literacy services are delivered by the Vocational Education Committees with funding provided by my Department. The disbursement of adult literacy funds is a matter for each VEC, which, subject to its budget, decides the nature of the service to be provided in its area and the manner in which the funds should be spent. In addition to the standard service, some VECs use some of their funds to provide specially-targeted literacy programmes, including family literacy.

A major educational inclusion action plan called "Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools" (DEIS) was launched in 2005. Recognising the vital role of parents and other family members in children's literacy development, a new family literacy project has been initiated as part of the DEIS action plan. The project will build on previous experience in this area and will be implemented on a phased basis. It will be based on a partnership approach involving interested parties in the area of family literacy. The operational details of the project are being formulated at present in my Department. The project will come into operation during the current academic year.

Funding for the Family Literacy project under DEIS is as follows: