18% of Irish people have literacy problems

One in six people in Ireland have literacy difficulties, and a quarter have only a basic level of numeracy, according to new data.

The survey, carried out by the CSO interviewed 6,000 people aged 16 – 65, and found 17.9% ranked "level 1" on a five-level scale of literacy. Ireland ranks 15 out of 24 participating countries when it comes to literacy.