Ministers Lawless and Harkin announce awarding of more than €1 million in funding to key projects tackling literacy, numeracy, digital, and financial literacy needs across Ireland
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From: Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
- Published on: 16 June 2025
- Last updated on: 16 June 2025
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless and Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Marian Harkin today announced the allocation of more than €1 million in funding to innovative projects across Ireland supporting adults with unmet literacy needs.
The announcement coincided with the ‘Literacy Changing Lives’ showcase event in Croke Park hosted by the Adult Literacy for Life (ALL) National Programme Office in SOLAS. The event brought learners, educators and community partners from across Ireland together to highlight how effective cross-community collaboration is in addressing unmet literacy needs across Ireland.
The Collaboration and Innovation Fund is managed by the ALL National Programme Office in SOLAS. Now in its third year, the fund has helped to create a more inclusive and equal society by supporting over 270 collaborative and innovative projects that help adults with unmet literacy, numeracy, digital, and financial literacy needs.
Speaking at the event, Minister Harkin said:
“I am delighted to see first-hand the incredible work that is happening throughout the country through these innovative projects and partnerships that are supporting people to access the vital literacy services they need, helping us to work towards a more inclusive and equal society in Ireland.
“Literacy is an issue that continues to affect many adults in Ireland - 1 in 5 adults, 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. 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.”
Yvonne McKenna, Director of the Adult Literacy for Life Office at SOLAS said:
“I am delighted to be here today to showcase excellent literacy-focused initiatives, including those funded through the ALL Collaboration and Innovation Fund. These projects are 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 ALL Strategy takes an ‘all of society approach’ so this annual event provides us with an important opportunity to celebrate success stories, share best practice, ask questions, but most importantly to generate ideas on how literacy partners can collectively drive change by working together. It also highlights the real power of effective partnership.”
Some of the great examples of innovative projects shown today include a project which supported literacy though heritage and storytelling in Roscrea a, project which produced a podcast with members of the Traveller Community in Blanchardstown to name just two. All of the projects showcased help support the aims of the 10-year Adult Literacy for Life strategy to make Ireland a more inclusive and equal society.”
This year the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) contributed €250,000 towards a financial literacy strand of the Collaboration and Innovation Fund. 29 financial literacy projects have been awarded funding in 2025.
Launch of Free Online Plain Language Course
The Adult Literacy for Life Office also launched a new free online course focused on plain language. The course can help people who communicate with the public do so in a way that is clear and easy to understand. Using plain language helps services be more accessible for people who have literacy needs.
The course can be accessed at: www.adultliteracyforlife.ie/aware/plain-language-course/
Notes
For further information or to arrange media interviews, please contact communications@solas.ie
Background information on the Collaboration and Innovation Fund
The 2025 Collaboration and Innovation Fund is an initiative of Adult Literacy for Life Strategy. Adult Literacy for Life (ALL) is a 10-year strategy that aims to ensure that every adult has the necessary literacy, numeracy, and digital literacy to fully engage in society and realise their potential. SOLAS have established a National Programme Office to operate as a central, coordinating office for the Strategy across all government departments and stakeholders.
The ALL Strategy is important because it will help people gain the necessary skills to achieve their personal, social and employment aspirations so that they can take part fully in society. It will also help organisations and services to be fully accessible to adults with unmet needs, and support a more inclusive, equal society.
Collaboration and Innovation Funding Allocations
Local Projects:
- City of Dublin - €154,888
- Cork - €70,900
- Cavan & Monaghan - €29,702
- Dublin & Dun Laoghaire - €68,074
- Donegal - €32,676
- Galway & Roscommon - €103,740
- Kilkenny & Carlow - €7,440
- Kerry - €48,866
- Kildare & Wicklow - €62,289
- Limerick & Clare - €95,300
- Louth & Meath - €54,691
- Laois & Offaly €22,685
- Longford & Westmeath - €60,413
- Mayo, Sligo & Leitrim - €13,505
- Tipperary - €52,255
- Waterford & Wexford - €36,405
In addition to local projects a number of national projects were also awarded funding:
- National projects - €99,715