Back to Top

 Skip navigation

Information Society (Households & Individuals)

Open in Excel:

The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) household survey covers a range of topics related to internet penetration and the use of ICT by households and individuals. The survey is conducted annually in the first quarter of the year and asks respondents about their ICT activities over the previous 12 months. It provides estimates on a range of activities such as personal internet use, online purchasing and household internet access.

Open in Excel:
This map is © Ordnance Survey Ireland. All rights reserved. License number 01/05/001.
6.1 Households with connection to the internet classified by region, 2017

Interactive table: StatBank link

In the first quarter of 2017, 89% 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 94% of households in the Dublin region had internet access in the first quarter of 2017. In contrast 83% of households in the Border region indicated they had internet access in the same time period.

Open in Excel:
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
  201220132014201520162017 201220132014201520162017 201220132014201520162017
                
State777880808281 544333 181816171516
Sex              
 Male777878798179 544333 181818181617
 Female777981818383 544433 181715151414
Age Group              
 16-29929396959695 432211 352324
 30-44899092929493 443312 765545
 45-59707674757679 656444 241920212017
 60-74404643455248 756676 534951494146
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 2017, an estimated 81% of individuals used the internet in the three months prior to the interview, compared with 77% five years previous in 2012.

In the first quarter of 2017, 95% of individuals aged 16 to 29 years used the internet "in the last three months". In contrast, just 48% of individuals aged 60 to 74 years used the internet during the same time period.

Open in Excel:
Type of online purchaseType of online purchase
Clothes,sports goods43.5
Holiday accommodation36.6
Other travel arrangements36.4
Tickets for events37.1
Household goods21.4
Telecommunication services18.7
Electronic equipment17.3
Books,magazines,newspapers17.4
Films,music15.3
Video games,software,software upgrades9.5
Food, Groceries7.7
Computer hardware3.5
E-learning material3.2
Medicine1.3
Other8
6.3 Type of purchases made online by age group 2017

Interactive table: StatBank link

Clothes or sports goods (44%), Tickets for events (37%), Holiday accommodation (37%) and Other travel arrangements (36%) were the most popular types of internet purchases made by individuals in the twelve months prior to interview during the first quarter of 2017.

6.4 Activities on the internet in the last 3 months, 2017
               
% of individuals 
  Finding information on goods and servicesEmailSocial networkingInternet telephoning/ video callsInternet bankingReading or downloading online newsServices related to travel Uploading self created content3Seeking health related informationSelling of goods or servicesBuying or renewing existing insurance policiesParticipating in professional networks4Looking for a job or sending a job application
         
State86857248716552494623181714
Sex
Male86846949716852473925192016
Female85857648716252505320171413
Age group
16-2986869360676649704526131926
30-4488897954806959525027242114
45-598581583569625034441918138
60-74797536335557422140101163
Principal economic status
At work88887351816961494826242212
Unemployed807772384755264337158847
Student8788936158674371432481522
Home duties827471415655424449161349
Retired807933345762462042101242
Other74647331475029354819664
Region
Border847668386845373432141279
Midland8374773858663451401721713
West87907150717459454934151117
Dublin88897760787560514923232917
Mid-East82826951676348514826141212
Mid-West91856945706451585417171412
South-East83807441685452524229221114
South-West86886939706254454718161415
Source: CSO

 Interactive tables: StatBank link

The most popular activities of individuals who accessed the internet (in the three months prior to interview) were Finding information on goods and services (86%), Email (85%), Social networking (72%) and Internet banking (71%).

This map is © Ordnance Survey Ireland. All rights reserved. License number 01/05/001.

Go to next chapter >>> Education

Why you can Trust the CSO

Learn about our data and confidentiality safeguards, and the steps we take to produce statistics that can be trusted by all.