Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 75: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the need to prioritise literacy education and, in particular, to work on the literacy of parents in order that they can better support their children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37994/11]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Adult literacy has been and continues to be a priority in adult education. The Programme for Government contains commitments in relation to the improvement of adult literacy levels in two key areas. As part of its Labour Market Policy, the Government will make literacy and basic workplace skills a national priority, with literacy training incorporated into a wider variety of further education and training programmes. The Government will also address the widespread and persistent problem of adult literacy through the integration of literacy in vocational training and through community education under its lifelong learning policy.

My Department provides funding of €30 million annually for adult literacy measures, benefitting around 55,000 participants annually. Since 2007, my Department has provided funding specifically for adult literacy, as part of DEIS, and in 2009 published guidelines for VECs on developing family literacy projects. The aim of the family literacy measure is to encourage parents to participate in their children's education and to encourage family members to learn together and from each other. Funding of €229,000 has been provided to 16 VECs for family literacy projects in 2011/12.

The National Literacy and Numeracy Strategy, launched in July this year, contains recommendations in relation to family literacy, and my Department is engaged in the implementation of those recommendations.

I will continue to support the development of family literacy as part of the range of options available within the Adult Literacy Programme.

Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 76: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for adult literacy education within SOLAS when it is formed to replace FÁS. [37995/11]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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The establishment of SOLAS, as the new further education and training authority, will provide a clear direction for the future of the further education and training sector.

The Implementation Group, of which I am Chairman, is busy working on an Action Plan that will allow us to implement the changes necessary to put SOLAS in place following the passing of the relevant legislation in 2012. SOLAS will build on the respective strengths that have been developed in the further education and training sectors and it will ensure the provision of high quality education and training programmes, including Adult Literacy, which are integrated, flexible, value for money and which respond to the needs of learners, jobseekers and business.