Social policy watchdog, Cori Justice, has today accused the Government of disinterest in tackling prevailing low literacy levels as National Adult Literacy Awareness Week got underway.
Following publication of its progress report into literacy commitments in Towards 2016, Cori Justice director, Father Sean Healy criticised the Government saying it had displayed a "complete lack of interest" in Ireland's literacy problem which could see 10-15 per cent of the population unable to read or write in 2016.
"In practice this means that Government accepts that up to half a million people of working age will be illiterate in 2016," said Fr Healy.
Warning that continued adult literacy would cause economic and employment problems and further social exclusion for certain groups in society, Cori Justice said the Government's efforts since the signing of the last four social partnership agreements was "illogical, unambitious and unacceptable and it suggests a complete lack of interest by Government in seriously addressing the adult literacy problem".
Speaking at the launch of the National Adult Literacy Awareness Week today, Minister of State for Education, Sean Haughey said he understood low literacy levels created a barrier to many aspects of daily life for many people and was a "hugely pressurising" experience for those affected.
Commending the National Adult Literacy Association (NALA) on its work, the Minister announced a TV awareness campaign about adult literacy in Ireland.
"NALA deserves huge recognition for the work it does in addressing the needs of people with literacy difficulties and developing policy in this area. Adult literacy has been the top priority in further education for a number of years. Lifelong learning is essential to an equal and inclusive society and it is becoming increasingly important to our economic needs," he said.