Census to be filled out this evening
Ireland’s next census will take place this Sunday (April 3). The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has said that this year’s census will generate a detailed picture of social and living conditions in Ireland.
A team of 5,100 enumerators are completing the delivery of over two million forms to every household in the country.
Census 2016 showed the population of Cavan increased by 2,993 (4.1%) since the previous census in 2011. A spokesperson for CSO said tracking population increase is a valuable resource: “We expect that the national population in Census 2022 will be well over five million, which will be the highest population since the foundation of the State. It will be interesting to see how the Cavan population is faring since 2016!
“Our 88 enumerators in Cavan are continuing to deliver census forms to each home. They will collect the completed forms between April 4 and the week ending May 6. We will publish preliminary results on the national population in June, and the full set of results will be published between April and December next year.”
The forms must be completed on census night and will be collected by an enumerator. Everyone present in Ireland on April 3 must be included on a census form.
The census is a valuable historic record for future generations to study. An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, emphasised the importance of the data collected: “The census, by counting every single person present in Ireland, provides a uniquely comprehensive account of our population.
"It is far more than a simple counting exercise. The census asks a variety of questions that give us the information that is vital for the planning of public services. There is not a single decision taken, on the provision of public services from health to education and housing, that is not shaped in some way by census data.”
Director General of the CSO, Pádraig Dalton, emphasised the importance of public support: “We have always enjoyed tremendous support for the census from people right across the country. We look forward to this continuing once again in 2022. This census features a number of new questions including renewable energy sources, childcare, smoking and working from home. This will add to the immense value the census provides.”
Privacy
The privacy of the information collected in the census is integral to the process: “We value privacy and are fully committed to protecting the information of every single census form,” Mr Dalton said, “Everyone participating can be reassured that the information they provide is confidential, will only be reported as aggregate data, and will not be released to any third party or government agency.”
Eileen Murphy, head of census administration, provided practical advice to people preparing for Census 2022: “Keep your Census form in a safe place to fill it out on the evening of April 3. Please read the instructions carefully, fill it out in a blue or black pen. If you have any questions your enumerator can help.”
The census is conducted by the Central Statistics Office (CSO). The CSO is an independent Office established in 1949. The census is the largest statistical operation undertaken by the CSO. The CSO is legally independent, and all the data it collects is kept confidential.
The Statistics Act, 1993 and the Statistics (Census of Population) Order, 2020 makes it a legal requirement for all people present in Ireland on Census Night (3 April) to have their information recorded on a census form.