asked the Taoiseach if, as a result of the proposed census in 1979, the following statistics will be available for the number of persons in the State who are (1) single; (2) married; (3) widowed; (4) deserted; (5) separated; (6) divorced; (7) unmarried parents; and (8) persons with marriages annulled.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - 1979 Census .
2.
: The 1979 census of population will contain a question on marital status, but it will not be practicable to distinguish separately the categories (4) to (8) specified in the Deputy's question.
: Would the Minister accept that such statistics would be useful if not essential in planning social and other reforms in the years ahead?
: They might be useful, but a census of population, after all, is a general purpose inquiry and, as such, must involve questions which are relatively simply and unambiguous. I think the Deputy would agree that to include the categories referred to in his question would entail ambiguous questions.
: Will statistics of this order be included in the general census which I presume will be held in 1981?
: I would not be prepared to give that type of information at this stage.