Impact of COVID-19 on ICT Usage by Households

Background

This publication reports on the key features of how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected ICT usage by households and individuals in the State. It is based on the results of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Household Survey, which collects data on households' access to, and individuals' use of the internet. The results of this survey are reported upon annually by the CSO and are based on a full quarter's data, but, to give users key insights into the changes in household and individual ICT usage arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, CSO has quickly analysed the results of this survey for 3 weeks in January and 3 weeks in March, beginning the 16th March, following the closure of schools, colleges, childcare facilities, cultural institutions, etc. and the commencement of the initial measures put in place by the Government, including stay at home measures and only essential workers continuing to go to their place of work.

This analysis is for the purpose of producing early indicators of the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on households’ and individuals' use of the internet during this period. Analysis is provided across key socio-demographic characteristics, reflecting how COVID-19 has impacted the ICT usage of households and individuals.

The total achieved sample size for the ICT Household Survey headline indicator questions in Quarter 1 was 11,773 households, while the achieved sample size for the questions detailing individual ICT usage was 812. This represents 13 weeks of data collection. It should be noted that the analysis in this publication is based on just six weeks of data, 3 weeks in January and 3 weeks in March. Also, due to the early publication of these results, population estimates are not yet available for Quarter 1 2020 so, for the purposes of weighting the data to the overall population, Quarter 4 2019 LFS (Labour Force Survey) weighted data was used and extrapolated to an estimate of population numbers for Quarter 1 2020.  

Purpose of ICT Household Survey

The annual Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Household Survey 2020 contributes to the EU requirement under Regulation (EC) No 808/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004 concerning Community Statistics on the Information Society (OJ L143, 30.04.2004, p. 49). It covers a range of topics related to internet penetration and use of ICT by households and individuals.

The survey covers a range of topics related to internet penetration and the use of ICT by households and individuals, and provides information on households’ and individuals’ use of the internet and other information and communication technologies (ICTs).

Questionnaire

The survey questionnaire is based on the implementing Regulation (EU) No 808/2004 and the annual Model Questionnaire on ICT usage by households and by individuals, provided by Eurostat https://circabc.europa.eu/sd/a/0a29aaab-924a-4b88-851d-db28bf144748/ICT-HH 2018_Model Questionnaire V1.4.pdf

The Eurostat Model Questionnaire has a core set of questions, which are asked on an annual basis. Survey questions change from year to year to reflect changes in the use of technology and use of the internet, and to obtain new, relevant information on different topics relating to the use of the internet and technology. Additional modules on ICT are repeated annually, biennially or triennially. In addition, special modules or topics on new emerging concepts or technologies are also included each year. Additional questions of national interest are also included in the national questionnaire.

Survey Design

The survey instrument used to carry out the ICT Household Survey has changed since the survey was last carried out in 2019, when it was carried out using the General Household Survey (GHS). In Quarter 1 2020, the ICT Household survey was carried out using the Labour Force Survey (LFS), using both Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) and Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI). The GHS is carried out in CAPI mode only. For the purposes of achieving sufficient sample size and Eurostat reporting requirements, the ICT Household survey is included in the LFS survey vehicle for two quarters in 2020, Quarters 1 and 2, instead of just Quarter 1. Quarter 2 data collection is still in the field.

The LFS data collection is carried out in 5 waves over 5 quarters. The headline indicator questions of the ICT Household Survey on household internet connectivity and frequency of individual usage of the internet were asked of all waves of the LFS in Quarter 1, and all other questions on the ICT Household Survey on detailed ICT usage were asked of wave 5 respondents only. This change has affected sample size. While the achieved sample size for the headline indicator questions has substantially increased - 11,773 in Quarter 1 2020 compared with an achieved sample size of 3,971 respondents in Quarter 1 2019, achieved sample size for the main ICT Household questionnaire was much lower - 812 respondents. Note however that for the purposes of the national publication later in the year and Eurostat reporting requirements, data from two quarters Quarter 1 and 2 will be used.

Reference Period

In 2020. the ICT Household Survey is being carried out in the six months from January to June (Quarters 1 and 2). In previous years, the survey was carried out only in the three months from January to March (Quarter 1).

The questionnaire asks questions about ICT activities for the reference period of three months prior to the interview taking place. 

Survey Coverage

The ICT Household Survey data is collected directly from private households. Institutional households, (e.g. nursing homes, barracks, boarding schools, hotels etc.) are not covered by the survey. A household is defined as a single person or group of people who usually reside together in the same accommodation and who share the same catering arrangements. The household members are not necessarily related by blood or marriage.

A person is defined as a "Usual Resident" of a private household if he or she:

1. Lives regularly at the dwelling in question, and
2. Shares the main living accommodation (i.e. kitchen, living room or bathroom) with the other members of the household.

One person from each household was selected. Information was collected directly from respondents - proxy responses from other members of the household were not accepted.

Sample Design

In 2020, the ICT Household Survey was carried out using the LFS survey vehicle. Full details of the LFS survey design are available in the Methodology of the LFS. 

In the LFS, households are asked to take part in the survey for 5 consecutive quarters (5 waves). For the purposes of achieving sufficient sample size and Eurostat reporting requirements, the ICT Household Survey is included in the LFS survey vehicle for two quarters in 2020, Quarters 1 and 2, instead of just Quarter 1. The headline indicator questions on household internet connectivity and frequency of individual usage of the internet were asked of all waves of the LFS in Quarter 1, and all other questions on the ICT Household survey on usage of the internet were asked of wave 5 respondents only.

However, due to the early publication of these results, population estimates are not yet available for Quarter 1 2020 so, for the purposes of weighting the data to the overall population, Quarter 4 2019 LFS weighted data was used and extrapolated to an estimate of population numbers for Quarter 1 2020.  

Derivation of Results

The total achieved sample size for the ICT Household Survey headline indicator questions in Quarter 1 was 11,773 households, while the achieved sample size for the questions detailing individual ICT usage was 812. This represents 13 weeks of data collection. It should be noted that the analysis in this publication is based on just 6 weeks of data, 3 weeks in January and 3 weeks in March (following the introduction of Government measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic). Due to the early publication of these results, population estimates are not yet available for Quarter 1 2020 so, for the purposes of weighting the data to the overall population, Quarter 4 2019 LFS weighted data was used and extrapolated to an estimate of population numbers for Quarter 1 2020.

Note on Tables

The sum of row or column percentages in the tables in this report may not add to 100.0% due to rounding.

Percentage breakdowns exclude cases where the interviewee did not respond.

Reliability of Estimates Presented

Estimates for number of persons where there are less than 30 persons in a cell are too small to be considered reliable. These estimates are presented with an asterisk (*) in the relevant tables.

Where there are 30-49 persons in a cell, estimates are considered to have a wider margin of error and should be treated with caution. These cells are presented with parentheses [ ] .

In the case of rates, these limits apply to the denominator used in generating the rate. In the case of annual changes, both the current year and the preceding year are taken into account when deciding whether the estimate should be suppressed or flagged as having a wider margin of error.

Classifications Used

Principal Economic Status

The Principal Economic Status (PES) classification is based on a single question in which respondents are asked what is their usual situation regarding employment and given the following response categories:

• At work
• Unemployed
• Student
• Engaged on home duties
• Retired
• Other

Region

The regional classifications in this release is based on the NUTS (Nomenclature of Territorial Units) classification used by Eurostat. Until Q4 2017, the NUTS3 regions corresponded to the eight Regional Authorities established under the Local Government Act, 1991 (Regional Authorities) (Establishment) Order, 1993, which came into operation on 1 January 1994 while the NUTS2 regions, which were proposed by Government and agreed by Eurostat in 1999, were groupings of those historic NUTS3 regions.

However, the NUTS3 boundaries were amended on 21^st of November 2016 under Regulation (EC) No. 2066/2016 and have come into force from Q1 2018. These new groupings are reflected in the LFS results from Q1 2012 onwards. The changes resulting from the amendment are that County Louth has moved from the Border to the Mid-East and what was formerly South Tipperary has moved from the South-East to the Mid-West, resulting in the new NUTS2 and NUTS3 regions:

NUTS2 Code

NUTS2 Name

NUTS3 Code

NUTS3 Name

 County 

IE04

Northern & Western

IE041

Border

Donegal

Sligo

Leitrim

Cavan

Monaghan

IE042

West

Galway

Mayo

Roscommon

IE05

Southern

IE051

Mid-West

Clare

Tipperary

Limerick

IE052

South-East

Waterford

Kilkenny

Carlow

Wexford

IE053

South-West

Cork

Kerry

IE06

Eastern & Midland 

IE061

Dublin

Dublin

IE062

Mid-East

Wicklow

Kildare

Meath

Louth

IE063

Midlands

Longford

Westmeath

Offaly

Laois

Acknowledgement

The Central Statistics Office wishes to thank the participating households for their co-operation in agreeing to take part in the survey and for facilitating the collection of the relevant data.