A review of literacy policy in Ireland
Our two most recent reports are:
• a review of Irish adult literacy policy, and
• a cost/ benefit analysis of adult literacy training in Ireland.
James Dorgan completed both reports. He is an independent economist and policy analyst noted in this area for his work on the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Science ‘Report on Adult Literacy’ in May 2006.
In the policy review, Dorgan identified problems with the national response to adult literacy in four key areas: policy objectives, resources, management and evaluation. He noted that the absence of evaluation of adult literacy interventions remains a significant systemic weakness and highlighted that there is an urgent need for a national adult literacy survey, which has now been secured.
The report on the cost/ benefit analysis of adult literacy concluded that there is a positive and rapid return on investment across the board; for participants, the companies they work for and the Exchequer. The annual income gain for a participant improving their literacy up one level on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) is €3,810. The Exchequer gains €1,531 a year. The cost/ benefit analysis found that literacy training increases employment by about 12% for each increase in NFQ level. At a national level, a country with a literacy rate 1% higher than the average will have a 2.5% higher than average GDP per capita. Other benefits identified included positive social impacts on health, social inclusion, children’s literacy and school performance. The study concluded that literacy training generates large returns for participants, and that gains to the Exchequer offset costs of training, while the wider social gains are even more valuable.
