Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 14 Feb 2002

Vol. 548 No. 4

Written Answers. - Competitiveness Report.

John Bruton

Question:

203 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason the 2001 annual competitiveness report gave Ireland a ranking of 16 of 20 countries under the competitiveness score for education; if he is satisfied in this regard; and if the ranking has changed in the past five years. [5078/02]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

The Annual Competitiveness Report 2001, published by the National Competitiveness Council, compares Ireland's competitiveness with that of our main trading partners using a broad range of statistical indicators. The report focuses on 11 key aspects of competitiveness, one of which is education. In considering Irish competitiveness in the area of education, the council examined a range of indicators covering the areas of population, education expenditure, participation in education and educational attainment. The competitiveness score for education, of 16 out of 20 counties, is based on 12 key indicators, which are set out in the report. The two indicators where Ireland ranked in the fourth quarter of countries were in regard to the proportion of the population aged 25-64 years with at least upper secondary education and the percentage of the population scoring at IALS literacy level three or higher on the document scale, 16-25 years, 1994-1995.

While comparable education competitiveness scores for the last five years are not available, the National Competitiveness Council has backdated a number of the indicators used in the 2001 report to produce a backdated score for competitiveness in education. The report gives a backdated score of 15 in relation to competitiveness in education, which reflects a slight change in Ireland's position.

I agree with the council's view that competitiveness scores give a useful broad perspective on the country's performance. However, like the council I also recognise that the scores are simple, unavoidably subjective measures and that there are limitations to competitiveness benchmarking.

In terms of the key indicators identified in the report where our performance was weaker, the Government's White Paper on Adult Education: Learning for Life, published in August, 2000, set out a comprehensive range of over 80 policies and actions for the development of the adult education sector. These policies and actions are being implemented on a phased basis in the light of resources available. Of particular relevance in this context is the progress under the national adult literacy strategy, with the number of students in VEC schemes having increased from 5,000 to 18,862, and with some 235,000 people per week watching the second TV series "READ WRITE NOW". The adult literacy budget has been increased from just over €1 million prior to 1997 to €16.460 million in the current year.