Over €50,000 funding announced for key projects tackling literacy needs in Tipperary

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless and Minister of State Marian Harkin today announced the allocation of more than €95,000 to fund innovative projects in Tipperary supporting adults with unmet literacy needs.

Some of the 11 projects receiving funding from SOLAS through the Collaboration and Innovation Fund include:

READ MORE: Tipperary festival announces jam-packed schedule of events ahead of opening day

-The ‘Read to Succeed’ initiative: promotes family literacy with parents and children, reading together and working to improve reading and literacy skills.
-The Sign for Future initiative: upskills Deaf members of the community who fluently use Irish Sign Language (ISL) as their first language. It trains them to become Deaf ISL tutors through a train-the-trainers course in ISL tutor skills.
-The Navigating Life & Community initiative: focuses on enhancing digital literacy, financial literacy, and numeracy skills within marginalised sectors through a combination of workshops, field trips, and community outreach events.

Other key initiatives will provide essential financial literacy and digital skills education to adults with unmet literacy needs, to help adults in Tipperary make informed choices about how they use their money.

Speaking at the event, Minister Harkin said: “I am delighted to see funding awarded to these innovative projects and partnerships in County Tipperary, helping us to work towards a more inclusive and equal society in Ireland. 1 in 5 adults in Ireland, aged between 16-65, are at or below Level 1 in literacy, meaning they struggle with reading and understanding everyday text. Initiatives such as the Collaboration and Innovation Fund provide critical investment to communities across Ireland, supporting projects and activities that enable adults to gain the necessary literacy, numeracy, digital skills, and financial literacy they need to fully engage in society and realise their potential.”

Minister Lawless added: “Literacy is fundamental to both personal empowerment and economic participation. Our Government and my Department are committed to ensuring every adult has the opportunity to improve their literacy.”

READ MORE: Tipperary concern group to host information evening over planned gas plant

“This is evidenced and actioned through the Adult Literacy for Life strategy. The Collaboration and Innovation Fund is delivering partnerships that are helping to break down barriers and bring forward innovative, people-centered solutions to literacy challenges. The aim being to build a more inclusive, informed, and empowered society.”

The Collaboration and Innovation Fund is managed by the Adult Literacy for Life National Programme Office in SOLAS.

The fund aims to help create a more inclusive and equal society by supporting collaborative and innovative projects that help adults with unmet literacy, numeracy, digital, and financial literacy needs.

This year the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission contributed €250,000 towards a financial literacy strand of the Collaboration and Innovation Fund.

Speaking about the importance of the projects, Ester Mackey, Regional Literacy Coordinator at Tipperary Education and Training Board said: “The National Adult Literacy for Life Strategy provides a clear and comprehensive roadmap to identify, address and support adults with unmet literacy needs in Tipperary and in communities right across Ireland. The ALL Collaboration and Innovation Fund helps communities create change at a local level. The fund helps community partners across Tipperary to come together and deliver innovative solutions to drive positive literacy outcomes for people in our local area. I am delighted to see ten innovative projects receive support to help address literacy needs in Tipperary. I am sure we will see positive outcomes to help adults build confidence with literacy and participate more fully in our community.”

Yvonne McKenna, Director of Adult Literacy for Life in SOLAS said: “The ALL Collaboration and Innovation Fund, now in its third year, is having a real impact at local level and making a difference in the lives of many people. The wide range and diversity of the projects it supports is inspiring to see. The projects are helping adults across Ireland to build their confidence with literacy, numeracy, digital skills, and financial literacy, and they demonstrate the importance of cross-community collaboration at local level.”