Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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68. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps being taken to improve adult literacy levels in view of the comparability of the Irish sample in PIAAC with that of other participating countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1998/17]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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Ireland was one of 25 countries that participated in the first round of the OECD’s Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) survey in 2011-12. A further nine countries participated in the second round in 2014-15.

On the literacy scale, Irish adults achieved an adjusted mean score of 266, slightly above the survey average score of 265, placing Ireland 19 out of the 34 countries that participated to date.

17.9% of Irish adults scored at below level 1 for literacy proficiency which was better than the overall survey average of 20.3%.

The improvement of adult literacy skills is a key priority in the area of Further Education and Training (FET) and has led to significant policy and practice development in recent times. This was reinforced in the legislation establishing SOLAS, the Further Education and Training Authority, with the inclusion of a requirement for the development of a strategy aimed at promoting, developing and encouraging literacy and numeracy.

A Review of Adult Literacy Services in 2013 made a number of recommendations which have been taken into account in devising the FET Literacy strategy and in revising the adult literacy operational guidelines. The FET literacy strategy includes a range of actions to improve the literacy skills of the adult population including CPD provision for staff, embedding of literacy and numeracy within FET provision and setting targets and objectives for literacy and numeracy programmes

An advisory group established to oversee implementation of the strategy includes representation from a range of stakeholders including the Adult Literacy Officers Association (ALOA), Adult Education Officer’s Association (AEOA), Education and Training Boards (ETB’s), Education Training Board Ireland (ETBI), National Adult Literacy Agency (LA) and SOLAS.

As well as the revision and publication of the operational guidelines for adult literacy, progress to date under the FET literacy strategy includes:

- Launch of the national literacy and numeracy promotional and awareness campaign - www.takethefirststep.ie

- Development of regional ETB adult Literacy programme strategic plans - informed by the recommendations of the 2013 Review

- Commissioning of two research projects to provide improved assessments systems for literacy and numeracy participants and development of national guidelines for ESOL

- Publication of the FET Professional Development Strategy 2017-2019.

Annual funding to provide adult literacy services, including ESOL, is almost €30million. Services in 2016 were planned to benefit almost 56,000 beneficiaries. My Department will continue to work with SOLAS, the ETBs and national agencies to progress full implementation of the FET literacy strategy and to continue to raise adult literacy skills.