Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 July 2006
107 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Education and Science her views on criticism by NALA of the conservative target of 6% growth in participation of students in adult literacy in the draft social partnership agreement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25935/06]
View answerAdult Literacy is, and will remain, my top priority in adult education. Since 1997, funding from my Department for adult literacy has increased incrementally from €1 million to almost €23 million in 2006. As a consequence, the number of clients catered for annually has increased from 5,000 in 1997 to over 35,000 in 2005. This represents a significant achievement by any standards, and I will continue to put in place measures, including increased investment, to tackle the problem of adult literacy as resources permit.
The draft Social Partnership Agreement proposes a further increase in student numbers of 7,000 (6% per annum) over the three year period. This figure may well be exceeded. Indeed, experience with the National Development Plan 2000-2006 has shown that the growth in the number of adult literacy students has been well in excess of the target of 18,000 annually set out in the Plan. In addition, specially-targeted literacy programmes which provide for more specialised or intensive literacy needs, have been introduced where the cost per student would be higher than the norm.
Earlier this year, a new intensive literacy programme commenced within the VECs, in which six hours of literacy tuition is available per week instead of the usual two hours. This pilot programme, targeted at the most educationally disadvantaged groups, has run for 14 weeks and an evaluation is currently taking place. If the programme is found to have operated successfully, funding will be made available for its continuation.
Other special programmes include literacy for deaf people, family literacy, for people with dyslexia, work place literacy, and for native Irish speakers in Gaeltacht areas.
While significant progress has been, and continues to be, made in addressing the problem of adult literacy, there is, however, no room for complacency and both my Department and I are committed to a continuation of the process of substantially reducing the literacy deficit in Irish society.
