The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) household survey covers a range of topics related to the use of ICT by households and individuals. The ICT questionnaire focuses on the use of ICT for non-work related activities and provides estimates on a range of activities such as personal internet use, on-line purchasing and household computer access.
Interactive table: StatBank link
In the first quarter of 2015, 85% of all households had access to the internet at home, compared with 67% in the first quarter of 2009. (See StatBank link)
It is estimated that 90% of households in the Dublin region had internet access in the first quarter of 2015. In contrast 79% of households in the West region indicated they had access in the same time period.
| 6.2 Individuals' use of the internet classified by frequency of use, sex and age group, 2012 to 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| % of individuals | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Used within last 3 months | Used but not in the last 3 months | Never used the internet | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | ||||
| State | 77 | 78 | 80 | 80 | 82 | 81 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 16 | |||
| Sex | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Male | 77 | 78 | 78 | 79 | 81 | 79 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 17 | |||
| Female | 77 | 79 | 81 | 81 | 83 | 83 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | |||
| Age Group | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 16-29 | 92 | 93 | 96 | 95 | 96 | 95 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | |||
| 30-44 | 89 | 90 | 92 | 92 | 94 | 93 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | |||
| 45-59 | 70 | 76 | 74 | 75 | 76 | 79 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 24 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 17 | |||
| 60-74 | 40 | 46 | 43 | 45 | 52 | 48 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 53 | 49 | 51 | 49 | 41 | 46 | |||
| Data are subject to sampling and other survey errors, which are relatively greater in respect of smaller values. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Individuals represent all individuals aged 16-74. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: CSO | |||||||||||||||||||||
Interactive table: StatBank link
In 2015, an estimated 80% of individuals used the internet in the 3 months prior to the interview.
In the first quarter of 2015, 95% of individuals aged 16-29 used the internet "in the last three months". In contrast just 45% of individuals aged 60-74 used the internet during the same time period.
| Type of online purchase | Type of online purchase |
|---|---|
| Clothes,sports goods | 43.5 |
| Holiday accommodation | 36.6 |
| Other travel arrangements | 36.4 |
| Tickets for events | 37.1 |
| Household goods | 21.4 |
| Telecommunication services | 18.7 |
| Electronic equipment | 17.3 |
| Books,magazines,newspapers | 17.4 |
| Films,music | 15.3 |
| Video games,software,software upgrades | 9.5 |
| Food, Groceries | 7.7 |
| Computer hardware | 3.5 |
| E-learning material | 3.2 |
| Medicine | 1.3 |
| Other | 8 |
Interactive table: StatBank link
Clothes or sports goods (31%), other travel arrangements (29%), and tickets for events (29%) were the most popular types of internet purchases in the 12 months prior to Q1 2015.
| 6.4 Activities on the internet in the last 3 months, 2017 | ||||||||||||||
| % of individuals | ||||||||||||||
| Finding information on goods and services | Social networking | Internet telephoning/ video calls | Internet banking | Reading or downloading online news | Services related to travel | Uploading self created content3 | Seeking health related information | Selling of goods or services | Buying or renewing existing insurance policies | Participating in professional networks4 | Looking for a job or sending a job application | |||
| State | 86 | 85 | 72 | 48 | 71 | 65 | 52 | 49 | 46 | 23 | 18 | 17 | 14 | |
| Sex | ||||||||||||||
| Male | 86 | 84 | 69 | 49 | 71 | 68 | 52 | 47 | 39 | 25 | 19 | 20 | 16 | |
| Female | 85 | 85 | 76 | 48 | 71 | 62 | 52 | 50 | 53 | 20 | 17 | 14 | 13 | |
| Age group | ||||||||||||||
| 16-29 | 86 | 86 | 93 | 60 | 67 | 66 | 49 | 70 | 45 | 26 | 13 | 19 | 26 | |
| 30-44 | 88 | 89 | 79 | 54 | 80 | 69 | 59 | 52 | 50 | 27 | 24 | 21 | 14 | |
| 45-59 | 85 | 81 | 58 | 35 | 69 | 62 | 50 | 34 | 44 | 19 | 18 | 13 | 8 | |
| 60-74 | 79 | 75 | 36 | 33 | 55 | 57 | 42 | 21 | 40 | 10 | 11 | 6 | 3 | |
| Principal economic status | ||||||||||||||
| At work | 88 | 88 | 73 | 51 | 81 | 69 | 61 | 49 | 48 | 26 | 24 | 22 | 12 | |
| Unemployed | 80 | 77 | 72 | 38 | 47 | 55 | 26 | 43 | 37 | 15 | 8 | 8 | 47 | |
| Student | 87 | 88 | 93 | 61 | 58 | 67 | 43 | 71 | 43 | 24 | 8 | 15 | 22 | |
| Home duties | 82 | 74 | 71 | 41 | 56 | 55 | 42 | 44 | 49 | 16 | 13 | 4 | 9 | |
| Retired | 80 | 79 | 33 | 34 | 57 | 62 | 46 | 20 | 42 | 10 | 12 | 4 | 2 | |
| Other | 74 | 64 | 73 | 31 | 47 | 50 | 29 | 35 | 48 | 19 | 6 | 6 | 4 | |
| Region | ||||||||||||||
| Border | 84 | 76 | 68 | 38 | 68 | 45 | 37 | 34 | 32 | 14 | 12 | 7 | 9 | |
| Midland | 83 | 74 | 77 | 38 | 58 | 66 | 34 | 51 | 40 | 17 | 21 | 7 | 13 | |
| West | 87 | 90 | 71 | 50 | 71 | 74 | 59 | 45 | 49 | 34 | 15 | 11 | 17 | |
| Dublin | 88 | 89 | 77 | 60 | 78 | 75 | 60 | 51 | 49 | 23 | 23 | 29 | 17 | |
| Mid-East | 82 | 82 | 69 | 51 | 67 | 63 | 48 | 51 | 48 | 26 | 14 | 12 | 12 | |
| Mid-West | 91 | 85 | 69 | 45 | 70 | 64 | 51 | 58 | 54 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 12 | |
| South-East | 83 | 80 | 74 | 41 | 68 | 54 | 52 | 52 | 42 | 29 | 22 | 11 | 14 | |
| South-West | 86 | 88 | 69 | 39 | 70 | 62 | 54 | 45 | 47 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 15 | |
| Source: CSO | ||||||||||||||
Interactive tables: StatBank link
The most popular activities of individuals who accessed the internet in the last three months were, Email (84%), Social networking (66%), Internet banking (64%) and Using services related to travel or travel related accommodation (53%).
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