Trevor Sargent
Question:39 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the measures in place to tackle the high degree of literacy problems in 34% of long-term unemployed and 15% of short-term unemployed. [26854/01]
Vol. 543 No. 3
39 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the measures in place to tackle the high degree of literacy problems in 34% of long-term unemployed and 15% of short-term unemployed. [26854/01]
The problem of adult literacy is primarily a matter to be addressed through the education system. My colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Woods, has put in place a range of initiatives in the education field to address this problem in more effective and innovative ways than in the past, as set out in the White Papers on Adult Education. The figures quoted by the Deputy refer to a survey carried out by my Department among unemployed people in Galway. There is a range of back to education programmes operated through the employment support services of the Department. These programmes are designed to encourage and facilitate unemployed people, lone parents and people with disabilities to build up skills and qualifications which will enable them to compete in the workplace.
The Department's back to education programmes range from basic literacy courses to postgraduate university courses and include the back-to-education allowance scheme – BTEA – which covers second and third level courses, the education, training and development option and the part-time education option. The BTEA is an educational opportunities scheme for persons who wish to pursue approved second or third level courses of education. There are two options available under this scheme, the second-level option and the third-level option. Under the education, training and development option courses that are not covered under the BTEA scheme may be approved. This option covers a broad range of courses, including personal development courses, basic education classes comprising literacy classes and numeracy training, general training courses and the acquisition of specific job skills. Persons availing of this option retain their unemployment payment and are deemed to be available for work for the duration of the course. Furthermore, the back to education programmes recognise that many unemployed people wish to pursue part-time courses of education as an alternative to the more structured full-time course. People can pursue a broad range of part-time courses, including literacy courses, and retain their social welfare payment, once they remain available for employment.