Vol. 481 No. 6
2 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if he intends to make a substantially increased allocation for adult and continuing education in order to facilitate a special initiative in 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16739/97].
The Government is committed to promoting the concept of lifelong learning and this commitment is reflected in its Action Programme for the Millennium. In this context, and as the first Minister of State with specific responsibility for adult education, I will be giving priority to the development of a range of educational responses in the area of lifelong learning. I am currently in the process of producing a Green Paper which I hope to have available by the end of the year.
On the question of funding, almost £2 million was allocated last year for the literacy and community education programme. The organisations involved in that area requested an increase of £1 million. The actual increase granted by the previous Minister was a mere £70,000, or less than 3 per cent of an increase in actual terms.
Following representations made by me to the Minister for Finance, Deputy McCreevy, last July I am glad to inform the Deputy that we have an additional £250,000 to spend this year. As the Deputy will be aware, discussions are ongoing in the context of the Estimates debate and I will make the strongest possible representations for a substantial increase in funding for 1998.
As this is their first Question Time, I wish the Minister and the Minister of State well in the area of education. Arising from what the Minister of State said about continuing education and lifelong learning, it is my understanding — he may correct me if I am wrong —that there may be only 20 literacy officers working in the Republic. I have read the Minister's statements on the Action Programme for the Millennium, but leaving aside the question of the adequacy or inadequacy of my colleague's provision in the last Administration, will the Minister indicate whether there will be an increase in the number of people dealing with the problem of literacy? The Minister of State said the Green Paper will be available by the end of the year. If that is the case, he should be in a position to anticipate the provision necessary for the increase in the number of people dealing with literacy. Will the Minister comment on the international observation made in recent weeks that the Irish level of illiteracy was very high, particularly for a country with such good economic indicators? At a time when we compliment ourselves on our high economic performance some people have been left uncared for in relation to literacy. Does that not make an outstanding case for giving a clear commitment, in the preparation of the Estimates, to the issue of literacy alone? We can return to the question of lifelong learning.
The Deputy raised a number of points. I do not have the figures for the number of people employed full time in literacy provision. I am sure it is more than 20 but I will get the figure for the Deputy. Since coming into the Department, I have become aware that the amount of tuition time for adult literacy classes is two hours per week which is equivalent to two weeks full time study in a year. Eighty-five per cent of the people providing tuition are volunteers. We are committed in our manifesto to reducing the dependence on volunteerism, introducing more flexible hours, providing more suitable premises and money for materials such as computers and software. I intend to press ahead with that. As the Deputy acknowledged in his question, that will require a substantial increase in resources. I have made the strongest possible representations to the Minister for Finance who listened sympathetically to my request and has given me an additional £250,000 for this year.
I do not need the Green Paper to tell me about the demands on the ground. I have spoken to people who are taking adult education classes and to the organisations representing those people both at national and local level — I refer specifically to NALA and Aontas — and I know many people who are involved in the system in my own area. The objective of the Green Paper is to rationalise and put a structure on the adult education system. Interest in adult education has grown to an extraordinary degree in recent times but there is total disorganisation in this area where not even all the actors in the field have the full picture. We need to establish some sort of national board to direct adult education and that is the primary purpose of the Green Paper. We are also committed to improving access to literacy tuition and that is the reason I am seeking substantial increases in funding.
Deputy Higgins is correct on the question of international comment. The OECD carried out a survey of eight countries — not all EU countries, they included Canada and the United States —on levels of literacy. The people at level 1 could hardly perform the smallest literacy tasks in terms of reading and writing while those at levels 4 and 5 could perform the most complex literacy tasks. In terms of the people at the lower end of the scale, Ireland was second last with Poland coming in last. The figure for those at level 1 was 25 per cent which is extraordinary and exceeded even the worst estimates of NALA and other organisations. I intend to publish the survey shortly but I am aware some details of it have already leaked out, as the Deputy will be aware.
On the positive side, the survey concerned three age groups — 16 to 25, 25 to 45 and 45 to 64. It is obvious from the survey that the biggest problem occurred in the older age group which fared much worse than the second age group, with the lower age group performing the best. I associate that with the introduction of free education in 1968. The problem becomes much more acute from the 45 age group.
I am grateful to the Minister of State for the figures which I am sure will have a beneficial impact on the Minister for Finance as he prepares the Estimates. On the issue of lifelong learning, it was my understanding that Aontas had made a submission to the Department of Education in relation to additional arrangements. Will the Minister of State indicate if talks have taken place with other Departments, such as my old Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht and the Department of Public Enterprise, about using new technology for adult education? I am aware preliminary discussions took place before I left my Department.
I agree with Deputy Higgins. It is predicted that distance learning will play a major role in the continuing education system. A number of informal contacts have been made with other Departments and I have some specific ideas in that regard which I will bring forward shortly.
