Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the delegates from the Central Statistics Office for coming before the committee this morning. I commend the entire agency, as others have done, on its work. The data and analysis produced is critical for policymakers in informing correct and official decisions in the interests of our country. I will focus on a couple of areas.

There is much focus on vacant dwellings because in light of the current housing crisis, it would be logical for us to find ways and mechanisms to ensure those vacant dwellings are taken up in order that people might live in them again. I accept the explanations given with regard to what constitutes a vacant dwelling and perhaps we could focus on that and tease it out further.

I welcome that for the first time, the office has examined the type of vacant dwellings, as that is important, and it noted whether they are detached houses, apartments or other types of dwellings. The witnesses indicate that the enumerators received some training in looking at conditions and how a vacant dwelling is identified. Did the office go as far as to look at whether dwellings are connected to utilities such as electricity, telecoms or other public services? I had reason to do quite a substantial tour of Munster recently and I noticed in rural areas there are many vacant dwellings that to the eye look uninhabitable. Where do they fall into the analysis carried out by the office? There is also the location of vacant dwellings and I accept that the census indicates which are rural and which are urban. It seems there are many more vacant dwellings in rural areas. Will the witnesses confirm if that is the case? Since the previous census in 2011, has there been a shift towards more habitation in towns and villages than in rural areas? I would be interested to see the comparison in that regard.

How the information is shared is very important in terms of informing future decisions relating to proper planning. The witnesses indicated that the office shares much information with the Housing Agency, which is welcome. That must happen in order to identify the future housing needs of particular demographics. I presume the office looks at future household size and needs, as well as current family formation numbers, including how many children are in a family and how that will convert to future need in the next ten, 20 or 30 years. By extension, does the office share information with the planning authorities, including regional authorities? The national planning framework is being drafted at present. Is there sharing of information in respect of decisions that might be made as a result of planning decisions and future development plans? If that happens, how long has the sharing of data with, for example, the Housing Agency or regional authorities been happening? Is this a new departure or has the office been doing it for a number of years or decades? It is important that there is ongoing proactive interaction between the office and those various authorities to inform proper decision-making on planning, infrastructure investment and meeting the housing need we all know exists.

These are my areas of focus with the representatives from the Central Statistics Office. I visit the office's website regularly. It is a major asset for any citizen, school, academic or others in the country. There is a raft of information on it and I welcome the way it is portrayed in an easily accessible way. That is important to note. The more accessible the statistics from the office are for the citizen, the better in general.