Paul Connaughton
Question:59 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Education and Science the steps he intends to take to further expand adult literacy services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14779/02]
Written Answers. - Adult Literacy Service.
Jan O'Sullivan
Question:84 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science the specific proposals he has to meet the commitment given in An Agreed Programme for Government, to further expand adult literacy services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14746/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 59 and 84 together.
I will expand the adult literacy service as resources become available. A sum of €93.5 million was committed to the service in the National Development Plan 2000-2006 with a target of reaching 113,000 clients. Investment in this area has increased sixteenfold since 1997. The funds are being used to expand the scale and scope of provision, support awareness promotion, outreach, the development of referral networks and flexible provision and to promote quality. My priority is to continue to build on this work. I want to continue to expand new forms of pro vision such as family learning, workplace learning, provision for special needs, and for those for whom English is not the mother tongue, as well as optimising the use of television and radio, so that people can access help in the privacy of their own homes.
In 2000 the first ever television series "Read Write Now" attracted an average weekly audience of 155,000. In 2001 an average of 235,000 people per week availed of literacy assistance in their own homes through watching the second literacy series. In each case the television programme was backed up by free learner support packs and a freephone helpline provided by the National Adult Literacy Agency. Videos of the second series are currently being sent to literacy schemes, training centres, public libraries and video outlets. This strategy will be built on into the future.
In addition, an innovative workplace literacy programme, entitled return to learning, was piloted in five local authority areas. This programme has received such an enthusiastic response from participants and practitioners that it is now being expanded to all local authority areas. In the coming period I will explore how this model can be expanded across the workplace generally.
The adult literacy budget has been increased from just over €1 million prior to 1997 to €16.467 million in the current year. Participation in VEC literacy schemes has been increased from 5,000 in 1997 to 22,733 in December 2001.