Make your mark for Ireland’s future
By Mary Dennehy
CENSUS enumerators have landed in communities, with people encouraged to make their mark on Ireland’s future by filling out a form on April 24.
More than two million census forms have been printed and delivered to 440 sites around the country, with enumerators currently dropping forms into households across local communities.
The Echo has been made aware that a number of householders in South Dublin County are anxious about opening their doors to strangers, due to a rise in the number of bogus callers in recent years.
Speaking to The Echo, a spokesperson for the Central Statistics Office [CSO], stressed that all enumerators wear hi-viz, yellow jackets, with Census Enumerator printed on the back, carry a branded bag and also identification – with anybody concerned about a caller encouraged to contact the Census 2016 LoCall number.
The Echo also asked the CSO spokesperson about people’s concerns over the disclosure of confidential information and he said: “We are encouraging everybody to participate in the census, participation is key to getting a snap-shot of Irish life.
“The information gathered does not go beyond the CSO.
“We will use the information gathered to provide a general overview, but no identifiable, personal or private information will be disclosed.”
He added: “Enumerators are currently knocking on doors encouraging people to participate and we will also be dropping forms into hotels, B&Bs, prisons and hospitals to make sure that everybody has access to a form on the night of April 24.”
Earlier in the week, the CSO also responded to comments which suggested that homeless people would not be enumerated in the 27th Census.
In its statement, the CSO said: “The census provides vital information on a wide range of topics and issues and is used in the development of policy by every government department and local authority in the country, along with a wide range of both public and private service providers.
“The formulation of policy on addressing the country’s homeless problem requires accurate information on the number of homeless people and their location. The census is the appropriate way of gathering that information.
“The CSO is aware of the increased complexity of the homeless situation in Ireland, and has been working for the past 18 months on the most appropriate methodology for enumerating homeless people in a variety of settings, including rough sleepers.”
The census forms, available in 21 different foreign languages alongside large print, Braille and audio versions, have 11 household and 30 individual questions to answer.
After collection, the first results from Census 2016 will be published around 12 weeks after census night on April 24.
Anybody with any queries or concerns are encouraged to visit http://www.census.ie/ email copfieldmanagement [at] cso [dot] ie or call LoCall 1850 2016 04.
