Michael Ring
Ceist:53 Mr. Ring asked the Taoiseach if he will ensure that for the 1996 Census unemployed people are given first option for the Census jobs particularly where there are two people unemployed within a household. [13797/95]
Written Answers. - 1996 Census.
The Central Statistics Office is currently in the process of recruiting a temporary field force to conduct the 1996 census of population. The field force will consist of 335 persons to be employed in various supervisory grades on a temporary full-time basis and over 3,000 persons to be employed as temporary part-time enumerators.
Applicants for these positions apply through FÁS and appointment will be offered on the basis of open competitive interviews with preference being given to suitable candidates not in paid employment. This arrangement has been agreed with the Employment Equality Agency as a method of targeting the unemployed without infringing equality legislation. Legal and practical considerations preclude the taking into account of the employment status of anyone other than the candidate in the appointment process.