Special Reading Initiatives
Three major national policy initiatives promote literacy in Ireland. Literacy and Numeracy for Learning and Life is a comprehensive national program aiming to improve literacy and numeracy standards in preprimary, primary, and post-primary schools.26 Supplemental “learning supportˮ teaching also is available for children experiencing reading difficulties.27 Finally, the Department of Education and Skills’ Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools program addresses educational disadvantage by providing grants, extra support for students, and reduced student-teacher ratios in participating schools.28
Other popular annual initiatives to promote reading and literacy include the Write a Book project, the Children’s Books Festival, and Book Week, during which schools celebrate literature and further promote a love of reading among children. Schools also may participate in community‑based literacy projects such as the One City, One Book program at public libraries.