Software piracy in Ireland is costing jobs according to technology business lobby group ICT Ireland. It said nearly one in two software applications in use in the State was pirated.

While the software piracy rate in Ireland has fallen from 70 per cent in the mid-1990s, it has stalled around the 40 per cent mark in the past couple of years.

"As the largest exporter of software in the world, with €8.5 billion in export business, it is inexcusable that our piracy rate should be at this level," said ICT Ireland director Mr Brendan Butler, who branded the incidence of illegal software as a "national disgrace".

Ireland ranked fifth-worst of 17 European states in the most recent piracy survey and the practice is said to be costing the industry €39 million a year in Ireland alone and nearly €2.7 billion across Europe.

"If this were to be addressed, a significant number of additional jobs could be created in the industry here in Ireland," said Mr Butler.

A study published last week by IDC indicated that a 10 point reduction in Ireland's piracy rate could see an additional 2,400 jobs created in the State.