Almost six out of every ten households now has a computer and 83 per cent of those are connected to the internet, according to a report published today by the Central Statistics office.
The CSO's Information Society and Telecommunications (2006) report says the number of households with a computer increased by 5 per cent last year.
The report estimates that just under a million Irish residents, or 935,600 people, use a computer every day with 638,500 using the internet daily.
People using the internet are seeking information, using email and contacting public authorities, according to the CSO's report.
When making online purchases the most common items are airline tickets, holiday accommodation and tickets for sporting or entertainment events.
There are now 372,000 broadband subscribers, up from 176,300 in the second quarter of 2005.
It notes that broadband subscription rates are significantly lower in the Border, Midlands and Western regions, where just 11 per cent of households have broadband, compared with the Southern and Eastern regions.
The CSO estimates that in 2004, the ICT sectors employed 83,400 people, accounting for 8 per cent of those working in industry and services.