The National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA) is honoured that President of Ireland, Catherine Connolly, has agreed to be the new patron of NALA. In her inauguration speech on 11 November 2025, President Connolly noted her commitment to “ensure that all voices are represented, heard and valued, and promote a public discourse that nourishes inclusivity, tolerance and active citizenship”.

We look forward to working with her over the term of her presidency to ensure that:

• the voices of adults with unmet literacy needs are heard; and
• everyone has the literacy, numeracy and digital literacy skills they need to fully take part in society.

Colleen Dube, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), of NALA said:

“We are extremely grateful to President Connolly for accepting our invitation to be NALA’s patron. For over 45 years, NALA has been the independent voice of adult literacy in Ireland. This work is still essential as 1 in 5 adults* across Ireland struggle with reading and understanding information. Even more struggle with everyday maths and using technology. We welcome President Connolly’s support as we continue to advocate for literacy as a human right and ensure everyone has access to learning opportunities that meet their needs.”

*Source: Adults aged 16-65. Central Statistics Office (2024). Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) 2023.