The Census 2006 Preliminary Report contains provisional results which are based on summaries returned by each of the 4,400 census enumerators.
The definitive population results, based on the scanned Census Forms, will be released in a series of subject-matter volumes between April and December 2007. The results in the Preliminary Report are therefore subject to revision. They will nonetheless be useful in informing the work of my Department, and indeed all Departments, across a wide range of policy areas, not least in supporting development of national economic and social infrastructure in a manner that is appropriately responsive to demographic change.