asked the Taoiseach if he will indicate the reason for the delay in collecting census forms completed by the heads of households over a month ago; and what is the system of collection employed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Collection of Census Forms.
8.
The completed Household Schedules are collected by the official enumerators. The duties of enumeration are performed by postmen in the Dublin Metropolitan Garda Area and by Gardaí (assisted by civilian enumerators) in other areas.
At the time of the collection of the completed Household Schedules for the Census of Population, 1961, it is necessary for the official enumerators to scrutinise the forms for completeness, consistency and accuracy and to ensure that they are as correct as possible. The form for this Census is much more complex than for the last two such inquiries and the task of scrutiny by the enumerator is therefore more time-consuming. A large number of the forms have actually to be filled in entirely by the enumerators or to be amended or completed on the spot. This causes considerable delay in the actual work of collection but it is not considered desirable to jeopardise the accuracy of the statistics by the acceptance of incomplete or incorrectly filled forms.
It may be stated that by the 12th May, 1961, about 82 per cent. of the forms had been collected in the Dublin Area and up to the 6th May, 1961, over 92 per cent. had been collected in the rest of the country.
Is the Minister aware that a large number of people cannot make head or tail out of these large forms and that they will require another three months to work them out? I wonder are the forms that were received complete because I doubt if the people did the job themselves. I had a job doing it myself.