Bernard J. Durkan
Question:355 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science his proposals to address literacy problems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31361/03]
Vol. 577 No. 3
355 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science his proposals to address literacy problems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31361/03]
Literacy skills are the fundamental building blocks of a good education. Young people with poor levels of reading literacy are a source of concern to my Department and form the target group for a range of actions. My concern and that of my Department is reflected in commitments given under the national action plan against poverty and social exclusion, 2003 to 2005, and under the latest social partnership agreement, Sustaining Progress, which contains a special initiative on tackling educational disadvantage entitled, Literacy, Numeracy and Early School Leavers. I am fully committed to achieving the two headline national action plan targets relating to literacy, namely, halving the proportion of pupils with serious literacy difficulties by 2006, and reducing the proportion of the adult population aged 16 years to 64 years with restricted literacy to below 10% to 20% by 2007.
My Department has a range of measures in place to prevent and ameliorate literacy difficulties at primary and second level. Learning-support teaching is provided in all primary schools by over 1,500 teachers who give intensive support to children with literacy difficulties. At second level, in excess of 540 learning support teachers are employed. In addition, resource teachers are provided for students with more severe learning difficulties and disabilities.