Tomás MacGiolla
Ceist:276 Tomás Mac Giolla asked the Minister for Education if she will outline the events/projects undertaken by, or with the assistance of, her Department to mark International Literacy Year, 1990 in Ireland.
Written Answers. - International Literacy Year.
I was very pleased, as an exceptional measure, to double the special fund for the adult literacy and community education scheme in 1990.
The following are activities undertaken by my Department or with the assistance of my Department to mark the International Literacy Year, 1990:
—Increased activities by the vocational education committees arising from additional funding for the adult literacy and community education scheme, the targeting of those funds for the disadvantaged, the issue of new guidelines giving priority to literacy and enhanced monitoring and evaluation of the scheme.
—Expanded programme by the National Adult Literacy Agency arising from increased funding, including a formal launch of the International Literacy Year and the organising of a seminar to mark the International Literacy Day and many other related activities undertaken by the agency.
—Activities arising from funding provided for the Dublin Institute for Adult Education, the Reading Association of Ireland and the Association for the Adult Education of Travellers.
—Provision of reading materials for travelling children.
—Provision of literacy materials in Irish for Gaeltacht areas.
—Special in-service courses for teachers.
—A special £1 million extra for schools library service.
I now intend to have a series of meetings with all of the relevant bodies associated with the work of International Literacy Year to evaluate the progress made to build upon the work undertaken and to plan for the future.