Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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344. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of persons receiving adult literacy and numeracy tuition from Tipperary Education and Training Board, ETB, adult literacy services in each of the past five years; the amount of funding spent on adult literacy tuition in the county for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45500/18]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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The delivery and enhancement of adult literacy and numeracy provision is being driven through the implementation of the Further Education and Training (FET) Literacy and Numeracy Strategy which is contained in the FET Strategy 2014-19. My Department, along with SOLAS, the Education and Training Boards (ETBs) and partner agencies are collaborating on the ongoing development and enhancement of the structures required to progress its implementation. The strategy sets out 12 inter- related elements which aim to promote, develop and encourage literacy and numeracy skills in the adult population.

Progress to date includes the development and launch of the national awareness campaign, ‘Take the First Step’, development of national guidelines for the initial and on-going screening and assessment of participants and the publication of a number of research projects including the examination of integrating literacy and numeracy in FET programmes and an examination of barriers to participation in FET programmes. This year SOLAS has commissioned NALA to progress the evidence base to inform best practice in relation to family learning. It is envisaged that Family Learning Best Practice Guidelineswill be available in early 2019.

The ETB Adult Literacy Service provides programmes with accreditation at NQF levels 1-4. The adult literacy programme is informed by a set of operational guidelines that include guidance on initial assessment and engagement and the importance of more intensive provision to support literacy acquisition. Less intensive provision can be useful in welcoming and engaging new learners back into education, but the guidelines recognise that more intensive approaches are required to enable progression.

Adult literacy provision in Tipperary ETB is available in 14 main centres around the county. Provision for adult literacy in Tipperary ETB is delivered through a number of programmes, including;

- Adult Literacy groups (small groups)- Intensive Tuition in Adult Basic Education (ITABE)- English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)- Skills for Work - workplace literacy courses- Voluntary Literacy provision (one-to-one tuition)- Family Learning Programmes

Details of the allocation of funding for adult literacy programmes, and the numbers of participants of adult literacy programmes, in Tipperary ETB from 2014 to mid-2018 are set out in the following table.

Adult literacy participants and funding 2014 – mid-2018

*ESOL= English for Speakers of Other Languages