"Illiteracy one of profoundest forms of social exclusion" - Harney Tánaiste says survey results "shocking" Major drive needed to boost literacy levels Extra funding likely - Harney

Tánaiste Mary Harney today (Thursday 17th June, 1999) said that adults and young people with literacy problems suffered from "one of the profoundest forms of social exclusion" in an economy changing at such a pace that there was a serious danger that they would never "have the dignity of a job" unless the issue was taken really seriously.

Speaking at the INOU/National Adult Literacy Association Conference in Dublin, the Tánaiste said that far too many of our fellow citizens are "prisoners of illiteracy". She described the findings of the International Adult Literacy Survey of functional literacy in Ireland as "shocking". That survey found that about 25% of the Irish population scored at the lowest literacy level.

"There needs to be a very positive assault on our literacy problems under the broad umbrella of a National Adult Literacy Strategy. I fully support the need to increase funding for literacy programmes and I expect the Government to take positive decisions in this area in the forthcoming White Paper on Adult Education. It is also a priority issue in the Employment Action Plan for 1999 which I will publish shortly," the Tánaiste announced at the Conference.

The drive towards helping those with literacy problems would not wait for the White Paper and there are a range of initiatives underway which the Tánaiste outlined to the Conference, including -

interaction between VECs and FAS to help people with literacy difficulties who are being assisted under the Employment Action Plan

enhancement of Community Employment to act as a model for literacy development, with work experience reduced to 10 hours per week and the remaining 9 hours on a literacy and basic education course

facilitating people on regular courses who have a literacy difficulty to be referred for help to a literacy service as part of their programme

dismantling any access barriers to courses for spouses and partners of persons who are long-term unemployed.

The Tánaiste informed delegates that she would ensure that the issues and ideas raised at today's Conference would be brought to the attention of her officials who are working on proposals to improve literacy services.