Broadband Dominates Home Internet Use

Over 60% Of NI households now have access to the internet, and just over half do so at least once a day.

Around 90% who have the Internet report doing it using a faster broadband connection in their homes.

These are just some of the statistics revealed in the latest edition of the authoritative Continuous Household Survey Bulletin, published today by the Central Survey Unit of the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA).

The bulletin provides summary information as well as some trend data from previous years.

It includes information on renewable energy, recycling, internet access, health, smoking, drinking, voluntary work, parental involvement in children's education and job applications.

In detail, the survey showed that 61% of individuals reported accessing the Internet.

Just over half (54%) of those who access the Internet did so at least once a day, while 29% used it several times a week.

Half of all households (51%) had broadband Internet access an increase from 47% the previous year.

Nine out of ten (91%) households with access had a broadband connection.

Despite the recession, three-quarters (74%) of adults aged 18 or more drank alcohol in 2008-09, with more male drinkers than female drinkers (79% and 70% respectively).

A quarter (24%) of individuals were smokers in 2008-09, the same proportion as in 2007-08 (23%), but 83% of all adults reported their health to be good or fairly good in the previous 12 months.

Two thirds (66%) of smokers had tried to quit smoking at least once. Of those who had tried unsuccessfully to quit smoking 80% had suddenly stopped smoking while the rest had gradually cut down the number of cigarette smoked.

A quarter of the population (24%) reported a long-standing illness which limited their activities, this proportion has remained relatively unchanged since 1997-98 (25%).

On employment, 8% of adults aged between 16 and 74 had applied for at least one job in the previous 12 months, a similar proportion to the previous year (9%).

Of that, 45% of those who applied were successful in their application and nine out of ten (91%) accepted the job offer.

Among those who had applied for a job 77% were full-time positions.

Also, a quarter of individuals (23%) had carried out unpaid work with an organisation that was not solely for their own benefit or that of their family.

A quarter of males (25%) had been involved in voluntary work compared to one fifth of females (19%) and 24% reported doing voluntary work as an individual in their neighbourhood.

Full details can be accessed on www.csu.nisra.gov.uk where a wide range of additional Continuous Household Survey trend data can also be obtained.

(BMcC/JM)