Draft:National Adult Literacy Agency (Ireland)

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National Adult Literacy Agency
AbbreviationNALA
Formation1977
TypeRegistered charity
HeadquartersDublin, Ireland

The National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA) is a non-profit organisation in Ireland.[1] NALA aims to help lower adult illiteracy rates[2] by collaborating with various Government departments and State agencies at a national level to create and execute policies to improve the circumstances of individuals facing challenges in literacy or numeracy. Their goal is to bring about improvements for these individuals. It is a voluntary body.[3]

Documents pertaining to NALA are stored in the National Library of Ireland.[4] According to its website, its patron is President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins.[5]

History[edit]

The National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA) was established in 1977, and its initial constitution was drafted in 1980. As described by the Adult Literacy Organisers Association (ALOA), through the founding of NALA, and its primary goal of fostering public understanding, the responsibilities of literacy providers broadened to satisfy the developmental requirements of the programme. These responsibilities encompassed duties such as promoting the service, handling inquiries, conducting student interviews and assessments, and coordinating meeting schedules and locations for students and tutors. A rising demand arose for the education of tutors, leading to the establishment of tutor training programmes that were designed in response to the specific needs of the students. These training programmes were continuously refined and enhanced as the service gained more experience and evolved.[6]

In 1997, then-Minister Willie O'Dea TD, on behalf of the Department of Education and Science, declared an additional allocation of £250,000 to supplement the existing £2 million budget for adult literacy courses. However, Inez Bailey, representing the National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA), argued that the rise was insufficient, and highlighted a perceived lack of adequate funding. Furthermore, he claimed that there appeared to be "a gap between the minister's aspirations...and the actual funding that's being allocated."[7]

According to the National Built Heritage Service, it was headquartered at 76 Gardiner Street Lower, Dublin City, as of 2011.[8]

In 2013, the National Adult Literacy Agency initiated a campaign by airing television advertising designed to inspire individuals to confront and address their literacy challenges. An Post subsidised the advertisements, which used the testimonials of previous pupils to highlight the benefits of resuming education. The advertising encouraged individuals to reach out to NALA's confidential freephone and freetext lines.[9]

In the 2010s, NALA, in conjunction with MSD, developed the first health literacy quality mark, which it awarded to Irish pharmacies and healthcare practices.[10][11][12][13][14]

In July 2020, the National Adult Literacy Agency released three papers that focused on research findings regarding adult literacy, recommendations for addressing adult literacy, and criticisms of present practices for their inadequacy. NALA requested that the nine government ministries responsible for adult reading, numeracy, and digital skills collaborate in developing a "cross-departmental approach." NALA expressed the view that implementing this in Ireland would be highly feasible, and referenced the Netherlands as a nation that succeeded in establishing a comparable system.[15]

In September 2020, a fresh initiative for reading, numeracy, and digital skills was proposed by Simon Harris, the then-minister for higher education, and accepted by the government. He also mentioned that interested parties would be consulted regarding the next course of action. RTÉ News reported that the National Adult Literacy Agency applauded the project.[16]

To celebrate NALA's fortieth anniversary, in October 2020, a book titled Voices was published. It was a compilation of concise narratives and analytical compositions authored by 27 individuals from Ireland. It was specifically designed for adult readers who encounter challenges in the act of reading. The editing was performed by Patricia Scanlan, one of Ireland's most renowned novelists. It featured contributions from Christine Dwyer Hickey, Deirdre Purcell, Graham Norton, Blindboy Boatclub and Roddy Doyle.[17] It was primarily financed by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Department of Further and Higher Education.[18]

In 2021, NALA declared that an increase of 1,000 communications to its helpline during 2020, a 44% rise over the same space of time in the year preceding. They stated that this rise had been an outcome of the Covid-19 pandemic.[19] The Irish Government launched the 'Climate Jargon Buster' website in 2021, which was given the 'plain English' mark ahead of its launch by NALA.[20]

The study report 'Financial Literacy in Ireland: Challenges and Solutions' was issued by the National Adult Literacy Agency in December 2022. NALA urged government agencies and financial institutions to adopt a variety of suggestions from the study in order to facilitate people's utilisation of necessary services and foster a more equitable society. EU Commissioner for Financial Services, Financial Stability and the Capital Markets Union, Mairead McGuinness, presented the study report at Europa House, in Dublin City.[21]

As of 2022, NALA was involved in the 'Ireland Reads' initiative, which is a public libraries partnership with with booksellers, publishers, the National Adult Literacy Agency, Children's Books Ireland, the Arts Council and Healthy Ireland.[22]

During the beginning of 2023, Carlow County Council were given a total of 30 housing applications in one month, however, only one of them was considered valid. This was attributed to errors on the completed forms. Brian O'Donovan, a senior executive officer, disclosed the number at a Carlow Municipal District meeting. O'Donovan showed that the housing application form utilised was sanctioned by NALA and satisfied the criteria for being straightforward to understand.[23]

The Parole Board in Ireland develops its written submissions in conjunction with NALA, which are composed in plain English.[24]

References[edit]

  1. ^ NALA: A Living History (2020)
  2. ^ "What's it like to work in. . . The National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA)?". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  3. ^ Oireachtas, Houses of the (2004-02-19). "Written Answers – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil) – Thursday, 19 Feb 2004 – Houses of the Oireachtas". www.oireachtas.ie. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
  4. ^ "NALA". catalogue.nli.ie. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  5. ^ "About us". NALA. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  6. ^ http://www.aloa.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/A-Short-History-of-the-Adult-Literacy-Service-and-ALOA-4.pdf A Short History of the Adult Literacy Service and The Foundation of the Adult Literacy Organisers Association (2019)
  7. ^ "Adult Literacy In Ireland". RTÉ Archives. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  8. ^ FUSIO. "National Adult Literacy Agency, 76 Gardiner Street Lower, Dublin 1, DUBLIN". Buildings of Ireland. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
  9. ^ "TV Literacy Campaign Launched". Southern Star. 12 January 2013. p. 6.
  10. ^ Mudiwa, Lloyd (2014-06-13). "The benefits of health literacy are Crystal Clear". Irish Medical Times. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  11. ^ "Ballinrobe pharmacy awarded health literacy quality mark by MSD and the National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA)". Mayo Advertiser. 2016-01-22. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  12. ^ "Nenagh chemist Anna Kelly wins health literarcy award". www.tipperarylive.ie. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  13. ^ "Crystal Clear Mark for The Palms GP Surgery". Irish Independent. 2016-07-22. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  14. ^ "Combatting low health literacy that's affecting a quarter of Irish people". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  15. ^ Aodha, Gráinne Ní (2020-07-22). "Cross-department approach could help tackle Ireland's rate of illiteracy - report". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  16. ^ Kenny, Aisling (2020-09-08). "Calls for end to Convention Centre Dáil sittings". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  17. ^ "Read a short story by Cork-reared designer Louise Kennedy in new book". Echo Live. 2020-10-16. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  18. ^ "Top Irish authors contribute to new book to help adult literacy". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
  19. ^ "Calls to literacy support agency saw 44% increase during pandemic". BreakingNews.ie. 2021-04-24. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
  20. ^ "Government publishes new Climate Jargon Buster Website". merrionstreet.ie. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  21. ^ Noonan, Rory (20 December 2022). "Research shows many people are struggling to understand and access financial services". Evening Echo.
  22. ^ https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/travel-books-flying-off-library-shelves-for-post-covid-holidays-1264062.html Travel books 'flying off' library shelves for post-Covid holidays. (2022).
  23. ^ Pender, Suzanne (7 February 2023). "Housing applications fail due to errors on form". Nationalist and Leinster Times. p. 12.
  24. ^ Oireachtas, Houses of the (2022-12-06). "Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions – Dáil Éireann (33rd Dáil) – Tuesday, 6 Dec 2022 – Houses of the Oireachtas". www.oireachtas.ie. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
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