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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 17 Apr 1991

Vol. 407 No. 1

Written Answers. - 1991 Census of Population.

Michael Bell

Question:

39 Mr. Bell asked the Taoiseach the number engaged on a short term non-established basis, as at 8 March 1991 in the provision and collection of data for the 1991 Census of Population; the number of these who were up to the date of their appointment in receipt of social welfare payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Bernard Allen

Question:

40 Mr. Allen asked the Taoiseach the number of workers being employed to administer this year's census.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 40 together.

The temporary field force recruited by the Central Statistics Office to conduct the 1991 Census of Population consists of (a) 334 persons employed in various supervisory grades on a temporary fulltime basis; and (b) 3,206 persons employed as temporary part-time enumerators.

At the time of their appointment some 793 of these temporary field personnel were on the live register, 66 were in receipt of other social welfare payments and an additional 221 were medical card holders.

When recruiting the temporary field force for the last census in 1986, preference was given to suitable persons who were on the live register or who were otherwise in economic need. However, following an action taken by an unsuccessful applicant against the CSO, an equality officer found that such preference discriminated against married women, contrary to the Employment Equality Act, 1977.

Following the equality officer's finding, the CSO changed their recruitment practice — commencing with the appointments to the 1988 Labour Force Survey (LFS). Since then, appointments to these LFS posts have been offered on the basis of merit as assessed at interview, subject to suitability of location.

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