Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 60: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children in primary schools here with literacy and numeracy issues; his plans to address these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27570/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Rigorously constructed surveys of attainment in English reading and mathematics have been carried out since the 1970s. The 2009 National Assessments of Mathematics and English Reading, which are the most recent in this series of national assessments, provide baseline data for future national assessments in mathematics and English reading at second and sixth class but are not directly comparable with previous assessments. In 2009, test scores were grouped into four proficiency levels, or clusters of skill sets and competencies describing what pupils are likely to be able to do. Those proficiency levels are described in the report of the 2009 National Assessments, which is available on the website of the Educational Research Centre, www.erc.ie. To facilitate comparability across classes and subjects, the cutpoints used to create each proficiency scale were based on pre-defined percentages of pupils. Thus, 10% of pupils were classified as at Level 4; 25% at Level 3; 30% at Level 2; and 25% at Level 1, with 10% of pupils described as failing to reach Level 1. The next national assessments in 2014 will facilitate direct comparison with the 2009 results. The National Literacy and Numeracy Strategy, which I launched in July 2011, contains a range of actions to improve the literacy and numeracy skills of children and young people up to 2020. These actions are being implemented.