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Information Society Statistics - Households 2020

E-Government

Increased use of e-Government services

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As part of the Government COVID-19 emergency measures put in place in March, public offices remained open for essential services only, with public sector workers asked to work remotely where possible. This survey collected data over the first two quarters of 2020, when public offices were largely closed. Respondents were asked about the type of e-Government service that they accessed online. Over five in ten (53%) internet users obtained information from public authorities’/public services’ websites or apps, an increase of three percentage points on 2019. Downloading/printing of official forms and submitting of official forms also increased. Half (50%) of internet users reported downloading/printed official forms (an increase of two percentage points on 2019), while 63% submitted forms online, up three percentage points on 2019 figures. Note that more than one option could be selected by respondents See Table 4.1 and Figure 4.1.

Table 4.1 Individuals' contact over the internet with public authorities and public services in the last 12 months, 2019 and 2020

Table 4.1 Individuals' contact over the internet with public authorities and public services in the last 12 months, 2019 and 2020
% of individuals
	Contact with public authorities and public services
	Obtaining information from websites or apps		Downloading/printing official forms		Submitting completed forms online
	2019	2020	2019	2020	2019	2020
State	50	53	48	50	60	63

Sex
Male	53	54	51	54	63	70
Female	48	52	46	48	58	59

Age Group
16-29	[45]	[48]	[39]	[55]	[48]	[69]
30-44	56	49	55	51	66	63
45-59	50	56	48	50	64	62
60-74	45	55	43	48	56	65
Over 75	n/a	*	n/a	*	n/a	*

Principal economic status
At work	56	55	55	53	68	65
Unemployed	39	43	36	46	48	63
Student	*	*	*	*	*	*
Home duties	45	53	43	47	56	62
Retired	38	43	39	40	49	56
Other	35	51	24	50	35	60

Region
Border	29	50	27	50	47	63
Midlands	36	56	38	47	46	67
West	56	52	52	52	62	63
Dublin	64	53	57	50	67	60
Mid-East	40	47	44	47	58	62
Mid-West	49	52	44	50	59	67
South-East	45	60	43	52	54	70
South-West	51	55	54	50	68	64

Household composition
1 adult no dependent children	49	55	44	50	55	63
2 adults no dependent children	48	59	47	54	59	67
3 or more adults no dependent children	51	44	46	36	60	52
1 adult with dependent children	41	51	45	36	55	56
2 adults with dependent children	57	51	56	58	69	68
3 or more adults with dependent children	41	54	37	44	49	61
Note 1: Data are subject to sampling and other survey errors, which are relatively greater in respect of smaller values.
Note 2: Individuals represent all individuals aged 16 years and over who used the internet in the previous 12 months.
Note 3: Contacts through manually typed e-mails are excluded.
Note 4: Respondents may have selected more than one option.
Note 5: n/a denotes breakdown not available for 2019.
Note 6: * Sample occurrence too small for estimation, i.e. less than 30.
Note 7: Figures in parentheses [ ] indicate percentages based on small numbers, and are, therefore, subject to a wide margin of error.

Open in Excel: Information Society Statistics - Households 2020 Table 4.1 (XLS 13KB)

Information Society Statistics - Households 2020 Figure 4.1 (XLS 13KB)

Respondents who did not submit completed official forms online, were asked for their reasons for not doing so. By far the most common reason was that Did not have to submit official forms at all, with 61% giving this as a reason for not availing of this e-Government service, compared with 49% in 2019. One in twenty (5%) had Concerns about protection/security of personal data, and a further 5% said that a Lack of skills or knowledge prevented them from availing of this service. See Table 4.2 and Figure 4.2.

Table 4.2 Individuals who did not submit completed official forms online by their reasons for not doing so, 2019 and 2020

Table 4.2 Individuals who did not submit completed official forms online by their reasons for not doing so, 2019 and 2020
% of individuals
	Reasons for not submitting completed official forms online
	Did not have to submit official forms at all		No such website service available		Lack of skills or knowledge		Concerns about protection/ security of personal data		Another person did it on my behalf¹		Other reason
	2019	2020	2019	2020	2019	2020	2019	2020	2019	2020	2019	2020
State	49	61	1	2	10	5	6	5	24	6	15	7

Sex
Male	47	67	1	2	10	3	5	4	24	9	17	6
Female	50	58	1	2	10	5	7	5	23	5	13	7

Age group
16-29	76	*	1	*	1	*	2	*	6	*	15	*
30-44	50	64	2	1	7	1	6	1	24	3	14	10
45-59	42	61	1	1	14	4	8	4	27	6	15	5
60-74	30	57	0	4	18	10	10	11	37	10	14	7
Over 75	n/a	*	n/a	*	n/a	*	n/a	*	n/a	*	n/a	*

Region
Border	43	55	2	1	14	11	10	10	26	4	12	14
Midland	50	*	1	*	4	*	8	*	20	*	23	*
West	41	55	1	4	12	7	8	4	27	9	15	2
Dublin	55	69	2	2	8	3	5	2	25	5	11	6
Mid-East	56	53	*	1	7	5	3	7	19	6	18	14
Mid-West	49	54	1	5	7	3	10	4	25	7	11	1
South-East	42	[69]	1	[0]	18	[11]	8	[5]	22	[7]	15	[2]
South-West	46	58	1	1	12	2	4	4	27	10	16	7

Household composition
1 adult no dependent children	46	61	1	1	18	4	9	7	18	3	15	11
2 adults no dependent children	42	60	1	2	12	8	8	9	28	9	14	9
3 or more adults no dependent children	57	64	1	2	9	8	6	4	18	10	14	1
1 adult with dependent children	62	[65]	1	[0]	8	[3]	7	[1]	7	[2]	20	[5]
2 adults with dependent children	46	56	2	2	5	1	5	0	31	7	16	4
3 or more adults with dependent children	62	*	1	*	3	*	3	*	24	*	12	*
¹Examples include consultant, tax adviser, relative, family member, etc.
Note 1: Data are subject to sampling and other survey errors, which are relatively greater in respect of smaller values.
Note 2: Individuals represent all individuals aged 16 years and over who used the internet in the previous 12 months.
Note 3: Respondents may have selected more than one option.
Note 4: n/a denotes breakdown not available for 2019.
Note 5: * Sample occurrence too small for estimation, i.e. less than 30.
Note 6: Figures in parentheses [ ] indicate percentages based on small numbers, and are, therefore, subject to a wide margin of error.

Open in Excel: Information Society Statistics - Households 2020 Table 4.2 (XLS 14KB)

Reasons for not completing official forms online	2019	2020
Did not have to submit official forms at all	49	61
No such website service available	1	2
Lack of skills or knowledge	10	5
Concerns about protection/ security of personal data	6	5
Another person did it on my behalf	24	6
Other reason	15	7