Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The reason for the increase is down to the census when a significant number of extra staff are brought into the CSO. This will continue for two years, with the collection of data in one year and its processing the following year. After I was appointed, one of my first jobs was to look for an early Estimate for the CSO to cover the cost of the collection and analysis of data for the 2011 census.

I thank Deputy Simon Harris for his kind comments on the CSO. Every Member will agree that it does a significant amount of work and research, not just for the Government but also for the wider public. Many primary schools use its website for their research. I would like to see more Ministers interacting with the CSO and using its data. I have asked Ministers, not just officials, to engage with the CSO board to find out what information is available. As we are spending a large amount of taxpayers’ money, any information gathered should be utilised effectively.

Deputy Simon Harris is correct about the Department of Education and Skills. The Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, sat down with the CSO board as there is a large amount of information relevant to her Department. There are other Departments, however, which are not utilising the CSO to the very best.

As for the questions on the census form, the CSO has consulted widely on including autism as the subject of a question. In the last census there were two questions relating to disability. I am not taking away from the importance of autism, but there are other areas of disability that people would also like to see included. This goes back to the religious question when people ask me why all religions are not included in the form. The CSO is always considering widening the questions on the form.