Vol. 539 No. 1
1 Mr. Noonan asked the Taoiseach if the planned census of population will proceed during 2001; the contingency arrangements in place in respect of the staff who have been recruited for this purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9621/01]
2 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach when it is expected that the census of population will be held; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15719/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together.
The Government, acting on the advice of the expert group on foot and mouth disease, decided to postpone the census of population scheduled for Sunday, 29 April 2001 until Sunday, 28 April 2002. The Government took this decision following detailed discussions between the Central Statistics Office, CSO, the expert group on foot and mouth disease and Departments. While alternative methods and dates for conducting the census, which would minimise the risk of spreading FMD, were considered in detail, the Government concluded that it had no option but to postpone the census for 12 months.
The 400 supervisory field staff, who had been working for three to six months on the preparations, were retained in their positions for a brief period to wind down the deferred census. Their contracts have now been terminated. They will subsequently be invited to resume their positions early next year for the 2002 census. Similarly, the 4,000 enumerators who were due to commence work on the 2001 census on 26 March will also be approached for the 2002 census. Some of the additional headquarters staff employed for the preparation of the census will be redeployed in the normal way to other Departments. The remaining staff will be retained to ensure an orderly winding down of the 2001 census and the smooth running of the 2002 census, with particular emphasis on speeding up the processing and dissemination of results.
While I am aware that the Minister of State would not dare speak for the Taoiseach while he is in New York, I presume the Government will not call an election close to 28 April 2002 in order that the census will not, once again, be aborted. Since the Minister of State assured us on radio earlier today, when we finally got to talk to each other, that—
The Deputy tried to spoil our—
I know. It may be four years, but the Government has not grown up. Will the Minister of State indicate whether the pattern of the census will revert to the five year sequence? In other words, will the census after the next one take place four years later, not five, so as to continue the sequence?
I confirm that it will revert to the normal five year cycle, from 2002 to 2007 etc.
That was not what I asked. Will the next census after 2002 take place four years later in order that one can have five year sequences for the purpose of assessing trends?
That is correct. We will return to five-year cycles then.
I appreciate that the cancellation of the census was unavoidable, but I am concerned about the impact of the lack of census figures on the Government's proposals for a national spatial plan. Figures derived from a census play a huge role in the planning of spatial development by local authorities. Will such planning be affected by the absence of census figures during the next 12 months?
Not specifically, although it obviously would be better to have up to date figures from a census. The quarterly national household survey gives a lot of information, as do the regular surveys and studies carried out by the CSO, which supplies us with quarterly and monthly figures relating to production, sales and other matters. Figures from the 1996 census remain available, so I am confident that enough statistics are available to develop the national spatial plan. Next year's census will further assist the development of the plan.
Will the Minister of State clarify his reply to Deputy Quinn some moments ago? Will the census following next year's be in 2006 or 2007?
It will be held in 2006.
