I propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 32 and 36 together.
The very disappointing and worrying declines in the performance of Irish 15-year olds on PISA literacy and mathematics tests between 2000 and 2009 point to the urgent need to improve the literacy and numeracy standards of our students. The Government in fully committed to reversing these declines as indicated in the Programme for Government which has been endorsed by the Dáil.
My Department is preparing a National Literacy and Numeracy Strategy which will contain a series of specific actions to improve the teaching and learning of literacy and numeracy in our schools and early childhood settings. My Department is currently analysing the outcomes of a wide-ranging consultation process and is finalising the strategy and I hope to launch it at the end of this month.