The National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA) and AONTAS, the National Adult Learning Organisation are organising a National Skills Conversation on Thursday 25 September 2025 to:

• Present recent research and insights on educational disadvantage, youth and adult literacy along with the impact of adult education in Ireland
• Discuss the implications and opportunities of this research for Irish society. The discussion will focus on the experience of adults who have returned to education and how the findings could influence education, economy, elections and communities in the future.

This conversation is timely given that:

• 8 September 2025 is International Literacy Day. This year’s theme is Promoting literacy in the digital era.
• Several Government strategies focus on adult education and literacy. These include  Adult Literacy for Life: 10 Year Adult Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Strategy, Ireland’s Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Strategy 2024 – 2033, the National Financial Literacy Strategy and the soon to be launched 2025 – 2029 Further Education and Training Strategy.
• The National Skills Council recently launched the Skills Matter: Priorities to Shape Our Future Capabilities.
• Minister Helen McEntee recently announced a National Convention on Education that will focus mainly on primary and post-primary education. It will also include the transitions children make from early childhood education to primary and from post-primary to further and higher education.
• The current Government’s first budget will be announced in October 2025.
• The Presidential election will take place in November 2025.
• Ireland will hold the European Union Presidency in 2026.

Agenda

9.30 am Registration and refreshments
10.00 am Welcome and opening remarks from

• Colleen Dube, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA)
• Dearbháil Lawless, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), AONTAS, the National Adult Learning Organisation

10.15 am Presentation of relevant research and insights into

• Educational disadvantage – Dr Selina McCoy, Professor in Sociology, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) and Trinity College Dublin
• The literacy and numeracy achievement of Ireland’s children and young people: Findings from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) and other large-scale assessments – Dr Lorraine Gilleece, Research Fellow, Educational Research Centre
• Adult literacy from the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) – Kevin Healy, Statistician, Central Statistics Office and Aoife Crawford, Research and Policy Officer, NALA
• Community Education for Social Transformation – Dr Eve Cobain, Senior Research Officer and Dr Rebecca Jackson, Policy and Advocacy Officer, AONTAS

11.15 am Break

11.30 am Panel Discussion with

• Michelle McGoldrick, Learner and activist
• Sarah Saughnessy, Learner and NALA Board Member
• Art O’Leary, Chief Executive, Electoral Commission
• Kevin Marshall, Head of Learning and Skills, Microsoft and Chair, National Skills Council

12:30 pm Finish

Places are limited so please register by 17 September 2025

For further information about the event please contact:

Michelle Lynch,
Communications, Advocacy and Outreach Manager,
NALA
email: mlynch@nala.ie
telephone: 087 968 9016