The number of new dot.iedomain names registered in the first quarter of the year increased by 12 per cent, with steady demand from sole traders and small businesses.

The IE Domain Registry, which manages the dedicated Irish internet address, said 9,398 new domains were registered in the period up to the end of March, with registrations growing steadily throughout the period. That compares with 8,694 in the final three months of 2011.

It also represented another milestone, with the 175,000th dot.iedomain registered, by Camilla's Tea Emporium ( teaemporium.ie)