Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 193: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the proposed national strategy to improve literacy and numeracy among children and young persons 2011-2020 can be implemented under the current and anticipated funding constraints; if the proposed document will be made available to schools free of charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34366/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The National Strategy to Improve Literacy and Numeracy Among Children and Young People contains initiatives and actions across a broad range of areas. The Strategy focuses on achieving better literacy and numeracy outcomes for our children and young people through the best use of the resources at our disposal. Many of the approaches set out in the Strategy have no cost implications. There will be additional costs for teacher education measures (both initial teacher education and teacher upskilling), curricular change and new assessment measures. Costs relating to lengthening of initial teacher education will be met from within the Higher Education Budget. Part of the other costs will be met within existing resources from other areas of continuous professional development. Some additional curricular and assessment costs from 2014 will be found within other areas of the Department's Budget.

My Department has issued a summary document on the Literacy and Numeracy Strategy to primary schools and this will also issue to second-level schools shortly. The full version of the strategy is available to download from www.education.ie.