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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 20 Oct 1992

Vol. 423 No. 8

Written Answers. - Adult Illiteracy in Dublin.

Austin Currie

Question:

112 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Education the number of those above the compulsory school leaving age in Dublin city and county with reading and writing difficulties; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

There is an acknowledged problem of adult illiteracy, in particular of functional illiteracy, in all developed countries and there is no evidence that the position in Ireland differs significantly from that of other comparable countries. However, due to the nature of literacy skills, there are considerable technical difficulties in estimating the level of illiteracy in any area at any particular time. Precise data is not available, therefore, on the number of those above the compulsory school leaving age in Dublin city and county with reading and writing difficulties.

Addressing literacy problems is an element of general education, of training programmes, of programmes provided by grant-aided voluntary organisations and of my Department's specific Adult Literacy and Community Education scheme. The Deputy will be aware that I have proposed, in the Green Paper Education for a Changing World, an in-depth survey to assess competency levels in various categories in reading and writing, including communicative and interpretative skills as part of the general strategy to combat deficiencies in literacy skills.

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