'Men on the Border', which contains a random survey of 165 men living in the border counties, found that 70% rated their reading and writing skills as poor or very poor.

This is well below the national average of 25% of Irish people having literacy difficulties.

"We really weren't expecting the figure to be so high and we were quite surprised by it, " said Joel Smith of the North Leitrim Men's Group, which carried out the survey.

"But we now feel that if similar reports were carried out in other rural areas, the findings would probably be similar.

"This is definitely more widespread than people think."

The report found that 60% of men had left school at 16 years of age while 30% had no formal educational qualiifications. The survey included a significant number of young people . . . 11% of respondents were under the age of 24.

"Because so many people in these areas knew they would be going into farming years ago, there wasn't so much emphasis on schooling, " said Smith. "Nor is there a tradition of adult education here.

"These days a lot of young people leave school early and go into construction and lose out on their education that way."

Sixty per cent of men surveyed visited the doctor once a year or less, while 65% had an annual income of 29,000 or less.

Fifty-six per cent knew someone who had committed suicide and 21% lived on their own.

"There is a growing realisation that there are a lot of men out there who don't have the skills to look after themselves and who are living in physical isolation, " said Smith.

"There is a lack of communication, a lack of transport and a lack of opportunities, and that is all compounded by isolation."

The North Leitrim Men's Group want more healthcare facilities, serviced properly by public transport, and more flexible education and training courses in the areas affected.

"If they know there is something to get up for in the morning, to get out and train or work and meet new people, then that can make a big difference, " said Smith.