The UN human development report draws its information from the OECD international adult literacy survey published in 1997. The aim of the survey was not to assess population in terms of literacy or illiteracy, but rather to identify five levels of literacy to cover demands at work, in the home and the community. The survey found that about 25% of the Irish population were found to score at the lowest level, Level 1, performing at best tasks which required the reader to locate a simple piece of information in a text, with no distracting information, and when the structure of the text assists the task. Low literacy levels were strongly associated with low education levels, early school leaving, and were more prevalent among older adults and the unemployed.
Provision for adult literacy has increased from a base of £0.850 million in 1997 when this Government took office, to £5.665 million in 1999. There will be a further increase to £7.825 million next year. The Government's Green Paper, Adult Education in an Era of Lifelong Learning, which was published late last year recommended that investment in this area should increase to at least £10 million per annum on a phased basis, and this will be further progressed in the context of the national development plan.