Abstract
This dissertation has created an illustration of the extent to which IL infiltrates the Irish education system. In a threefold investigation a mapping exercise was carried out, librarians in the two main teacher training colleges were interviewed and two focus groups were held; one consisting of primary school teachers and one of secondary. The results demonstrated that all of the IL competencies, as defined by ACRL, SCONUL and ANZIL, are found within the Irish curricula. The librarians in the national teacher training colleges expressed a need for an upgrade in IL training for trainee teachers and a need for a tailored framework, equivalent to the Welsh system. The teachers themselves, during the focus groups, directed to the conclusions that primary school teachers would be willing to incorporate IL into their lessons, provided the resources were available. The secondary school teachers expressed a need for a formal IL grading system to create enthusiasm for the concept. Both groups displayed ignorance to some aspects of IL. The conclusion of this project is that political support is required if teachers are to become fully aware of IL and incorporate it into their teaching. Currently, there an absence of leadership in this area, creating a student body ill-equipped for third level education on entry. Author keywords: Information literacy
