Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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The initial implementation phase of the Adult Literacy for Life (ALL) Strategy involved the establishment of a National Programme Office (NPO) in SOLAS, with six staff to drive its implementation along with the recruitment of Regional Literacy Coordinators in the Education and Training Boards. Minister Harris chairs the ALL Strategy Oversight Group and the NPO has recently established a National Literacy Coalition with representatives from across government and society to share expertise and drive responses over the lifetime of the strategy. At a local level, the 15 Regional Literacy Coordinators have met with over 300 organisations in the community, identifying gaps and opportunities to improve services and responses to literacy. Similar to the national effort, they are also setting up Regional Literacy Coalitions around the country, which will develop and implement regional literacy plans.

The one-stop-shop, adultliteracy.ie, provides over 210 local contacts points and access to a national Freephone for anyone who wishes to avail of one of the 100,000 places currently available through further education and training providers across the country. A suite of resources to address literacy, numeracy, and language assessment, as well as inclusion in the Adult Literacy service, which aim to ensure the continued improvement of this service for the learners, have been published.

The allocation of €1m to 51 projects under the ALL Strategy Collaboration and Innovation Fund to help adults learn literacy, numeracy and digital skills was announced in July this year. These projects comprise a diverse range of organisations nationwide, from small community groups to libraries, refugee centres, support organisations and adult education providers and involve collaborative and innovative activities to support the strategy.

In September, a national awareness campaign was undertaken involving radio, video on demand, outdoor display, digital and social media. The campaign focused on learners talking about their positive experiences of adult education and encouraging others to give it a go, followed by a call to action to improve reading, writing, maths or digital skills by contacting their local ETB or calling a freephone number. This campaign was amplified by some 30 events and activities held nationwide to promote adult literacy services, including Regional Literacy Coordinators being available in local Post Offices nationwide and attending the National Ploughing Championships.

Work is continuing apace with plans for the remainder of the year including research to inform a Professional Development Framework for adult literacy practitioners, the mapping of Digital Literacy training providers in Ireland, and training 30 staff working in the public services to become plain language editors.

The detailed workplan for 2024 will focus on advancing actions and commitments in the Strategy.