Study links lack of education to parents

Ireland has one of the EU’s highest rates of lowly- educated adults whose parents were also poorly schooled.

Although international studies show Ireland has one of the best-educated populations, particularly in younger adult age brackets, EU analysis suggests the figures could hide strong social or other disparities when the background of those with college degrees is considered.

Only five of the 27 other EU countries — Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, and Spain — have a higher proportion of adults with poorly-educated parents who had a low level of education than the 40% figure in Ireland.