With one in 10 pupils leaving primary school with literacy problems, the INTO has demanded a fresh Government initiative to address the crisis.
The INTO general secretary, Senator Joe O'Toole, said a national literacy committee had to be established to tackle the problem.
The key to long-term progress, he said, was earlier intervention. "It is too late to begin measuring the problem at school-leaving age or even at the end of primary education."
Meanwhile, AONTAS, the national adult-education association, has called on political parties and candidates to commit themselves to building and investing in the adult-education service. The call was made by the group's director, Ms Berni Brady, at the launch of their "Three Rs" pre-election campaign, which will focus on achieving better recognition, more resources and improved representation for the adult-education sector. The campaign will include:
Distribution of 10,000 leaflets to adult learning groups.
A lobbying campaign aimed at general election candidates and political parties.