Census of Population Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2015

Tuesday, 14 July 2015

Questions (143)

Anthony Lawlor

Question:

143. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Taoiseach with regard to next year's census, if he is satisfied that the question on the religion of each citizen ought not to be changed to a question on the practising of a religion, if any, given the growing disparity between stated religion and actual life practice; if the question on religion ought to be asked of each citizen above a certain age, for example 15 years, and should it be answered directly by that citizen, rather than by the head of household, hotel, or school manager, etc; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28916/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach

The next census of population will take place on 24th April next year. This is a major undertaking for the Central Statistics Office and requires detailed forward planning in order for census enumerators to call at every home in Ireland to deliver in the region of 1.8 million census forms.

The CSO works hard to ensure that the information collected and provided from the census remains current, relevant and of maximum use to the public. It has been common practice in advance of each census to conduct a public consultation on possible new questions and changes to existing questions, which are then considered by a specially convened Census Advisory Group in advance of testing in the field in the form of a pilot survey of some 12,000 dwellings. Unfortunately given the very tight budget circumstances in 2013 and 2014, with constraints on resources right across the public sector, it was not possible to pursue this route for census 2016. Accordingly the 2016 census is being run as a ‘no-change’ census with the questions (including the religion question) on the 2016 questionnaire remaining unchanged from those used in the 2011 census, with the exception of the question on marital status.

The format of the question on religion used in 2011, and being repeated in 2016, was agreed by the Census Advisory Group which was established to assist the CSO in developing the 2011 questionnaire. This group comprised representatives of central and local government, the social partners, universities, research bodies and other users of census data, along with the relevant CSO personnel. The group reviewed over 90 submissions for new questions or changes to existing questions during the course of their work.

In private households the head of household is asked to complete the form for the entire household. However in all non-private establishments each individual completes their own form.

As censuses of population are traditionally held at five-yearly intervals in Ireland it is intended that should there be a census in 2021 a full public consultation on the questions to be asked will be conducted in advance.