The Central Statistics Office recruits a large, temporary fieldforce to undertake 5-yearly censuses of population. At the last census, taken in April 1996, some 3,400 enumerators and 335 supervisors were employed.
Appointments to these temporary field posts are made by the Director General of the CSO in accordance with section 17 of the Statistics Act, 1993. The posts are subject to any general employment legislation in force at the time.
All census field staff are recruited through open competition. The positions are advertised nationally and applications for the various posts are submitted to the Central Statistics Office via FÁS. Appointments are offered in order to merit as determined by specially convened interview boards, with preference given to persons not in paid employment. The conditions of employment, duties and responsibilities of the posts and rates of remuneration are clearly set out in the relevant recruitment documentation issued to each applicant.
The following were the remuneration rates applicable for the 1996 census:
Field Supervisor
Weekly salary of IR£244.80 plus a terminal bonus of IR£245. Travel and subsistence allowances were payable where appropriate.
