Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The enumerators are tied up with their census work until mid-June or the end of June. They will not do it in July and August. I do not believe July and August would be the best months to carry it out. Deputy Rabbitte knows that would not be practical.

Work on the issue of dealing with deaths is on-going. It does not require people to call to the houses. The local authorities must step up their own efforts in this regard and the Minister has dedicated resources to do so. The issues surrounding fraud are already governed in the legislation. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche, his Department and colleagues are making a genuine effort. If we can get the help of the CSO to do this we could have a far better register than the ones that in my experience we have had for the past two decades.

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