Ministers have set aside €425m over the coming five years to boost literacy, numeracy and computer skills among people who have difficulty functioning in society.

In total, the money will be used to target 2.5 million adults and children ‘with and without an immigrant background’, the education ministry said on Monday.

‘Language, arithmetic and digital skills are essential to be able to contribute to society,’ education minister Ingrid van Engelshoven said in a statement. ‘A lack of skills is a barrier to independence in our society, both online and offline. So we are investing heavily in helping people improve their basic skills.’

The money will be spent on adult education classes and special subsidies for employers who sign a ‘language agreement’ pledging to work to combat illiteracy.

By 2024, at least 1,000 companies should have signed up for the agreement, and the target is to provide help to 30,000 people via the corporate scheme.

Money will also go on helping people learn to use computers and smartphones.