The General Election is almost here.

On Friday 29 November 2024 we will vote for candidates and political parties who will run our country.

We’ve been reading all the biggest political parties’ manifestos and here’s just some of what they have to say about adult literacy, numeracy and digital skills.

• Fianna Fáil will increase the Back to Education Allowance by 25%;
• Fianna Fáil will publish the National Counter Disinformation Strategy and an implementation plan to empower citizens through media literacy, education, and awareness so they have the skills to identify disinformation.

• Fine Gael will collaborate with libraries and Education and Training Boards (ETBs) to provide accessible digital learning resources, making lifelong learning available to people of all ages and backgrounds;
• Fine Gael will implement a strategy focusing on education and upskilling opportunities for individuals with criminal convictions during custody, as well as supporting their course completion post-release.

• The Green party will implement the Adult Literacy for Life Strategy (ALL) to support people’s full participation in Irish society and increase funding for adult and digital literacy;
• The Green party will divert a portion of the National Training Fund into a French-style system of Personal Training Accounts, where workers are allocated money to spend on their professional and skill development.

• Labour will appoint a dedicated Minister of State for Lifelong Learning and Literacy;
• Labour will introduce a Public Sector Plain Language Bill to require all communications to be plainly written and ensure public bodies use the ISO Plain Language standard in communications

• Sinn Féin will extend the Fund for Students with a Disability (FSD) across Further Education and Training, so that it applies to all FET courses, not just PLCs;
• Sinn Féin will explore ways to incorporate media literacy into the school curriculum, based on international best practice.

• The Social Democrats will make multi-annual investment in community education the norm, and reform financial supports aimed at – and develop more robust wraparound supports for – adult learners;
• The Social Democrats will support the implementation of the Adult Literacy for Life ten-year strategy.

For more information on Election 2024 go to www.nala.ie/election