Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 March 2023
131. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Taoiseach if he will include a young carers section on the Census form, to ascertain and enumerate the level of care provided by young carers relating to their role in providing physical or emotional support to family members with a long-term illness, health issue, or issue related to old age or disability [13744/23]
View answerAs part of the preparatory work for the 2027 census the CSO conducted a public consultation by inviting submissions on the possible questions, and on the outputs to be produced. Notice to this effect was published in the national press in November 2022, and notices for submissions remained live until January 2023. This phase of the process has now concluded. Over 400 submissions were received in total, among them submissions on the subject of carers.
A Census Advisory Group will be set up in the coming months to consider the submissions received and advise on the questions to be tested in a pilot survey planned to be carried in the autumn of 2024. The Census Advisory Group membership will be representative of central and local government, the social partners, universities, research bodies and other users of census data along with the relevant CSO personnel. Following the completion of the pilot survey, the Census Advisory Group will be reconvened to discuss the findings and will ultimately make recommendations to government on the content for the Census 2027 questionnaire.
The CSO is currently preparing a high level publication and summary data tables from Census 2022 for release in May. High level data on carers will be included in this publication. In September, the CSO will produce a detailed publication on disability, health and carers which will provide more detailed information including the age profile of carers, hours spent caring and the geographical location of carers.
