Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 162: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the comments made by the justice department of the Conference of Religious of Ireland in respect of the Government plan to reduce adult illiteracy to between 10% to 15% before 2016 as logical, unambitious and unacceptable; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21593/07]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of the comments made by CORI last week. Funding from my Department for adult literacy has increased dramatically from just €1 million in 1997 to €30 million in 2007. The 2007 allocation represents an increase of €7.4 million, or 21%, on 2006.

As a result of this increased expenditure, the number of literacy places has increased from 5,000 in 1997 to over 40,000 in 2006. Following on commitments in the "Towards 2016" Partnership Agreement and in the Programme for Government an extra 7,000 literacy places will be provided in the period 2007-2009. I am providing for 3,000 of these additional places in 2007.

The increased financial provision this year also allows for an expansion of the Intensive Tuition in Adult Basic Education Programme, which was launched in 2006. In addition, a family literacy pilot scheme is being developed this autumn to address poor literacy from an intergenerational family perspective.

To ensure a multi-pronged approach is adopted my Department has, in partnership with NALA, used the medium of television to reach an even wider audience. The "Read, Write Now" series, from 2000 to 2005, and the more recent "Really Useful Guide to Words and Numbers" in 2006/2007 provided learners with an opportunity to improve their literacy skills from the comfort and privacy of their own homes. Funding for a new series has been made available.

There are also a number of schemes funded by my Department which target people with special literacy needs, e.g. deaf people, people with dyslexia and a literacy service in Irish for people in Gaeltacht areas.

Adult literacy and numeracy are also an integral component for learners in both the part-time and full-time suite of further education programmes.

In addition, there are workplace literacy schemes in operation around the country. A workplace literacy programme, called Return to Learning Scheme, has been introduced in all Local Authority areas for outdoor workers. Under the FÁS/VEC Return to Education Scheme, participants on the Community Employment Scheme, operated by FÁS, can be released from their work experience programmes to avail themselves of intensive literacy tuition provided by the Vocational Education Committees.

In 2005, and again in 2006, FÁS spent €2 million on addressing the literacy and numeracy needs of staff in the workplace. An additional €1 million is being provided in 2007, bringing the total funding to €3 million for this scheme.

In addition to the wide range of initiatives I have just outlined, a far greater emphasis has been put on improving children's literacy skills in recent years. We are prioritising early intervention so that children's literacy problems do not become entrenched and carry with them into adulthood.

Significant progress has therefore been made, and continues to be made, in addressing the needs of both children and adults with low levels of literacy. The Government's targets for the coming years are designed to be both challenging and achievable.