More than half of Irish adults have below-average levels of literacy, according to the results of an International Adult Literacy Survey published yesterday. The survey of eight countries confirms draft figures released earlier this year which showed that Ireland had the second highest percentage of adults aged 1665 at the lowest levels of literacy.
On average, 54 per cent of the State's adults are below the minimum level of literacy, with almost 23 per cent at the lowest level of literacy. Only Poland had a higher percentage below minimum literacy levels.
Ireland also has the second lowest percentage of adults - 13.7 per cent - at the highest levels of literacy. More than 60 per cent of Irish adults at the lowest literacy level had left school without Junior Cert qualifications.
Yet the report reveals that the vast majority of respondents do not believe that they have problems with literacy. Almost 90 per cent rated their workplace reading skills as good or excellent, while almost 85 per cent similarly rated their writing skills. Less than 2 per cent categorised their reading and writing skills as poor.
Participation in adult education in Ireland is also among the lowest in the OECD countries, according to the report. Just over 20 per cent of adults participate in adult education, half the international average.
Mr Willie O'Dea, Minister of State for Education and Science, has announced an increase of £250,000 in the current adult literacy budget of £1.9 million. He said the issue of adult literacy would also be addressed through a public awareness campaign and in the forthcoming Green Paper on Adult Education.
Ms Inez Bailey, acting director of the National Adult Literacy Agency, said she was "not in the least surprised" by the findings and described the increase of £250,000 in the adult literacy budget as "a drop in the ocean".