Dáil debates

Wednesday, 11 October 2006

11:00 am

Photo of Tom KittTom Kitt (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I can make a brief comment on that matter. On the Deputy's first question, however, I will ask the CSO to communicate directly with him on the anecdotal evidence in his possession regarding issues of access etc. and difficulties that may have arisen.

With regard to the future work of the CSO, I understand that during next year it will issue approximately 16 publications in all.

As the Deputy is probably aware, currently the CSO is carrying out important work relating to disability. Two questions pertaining to disability were introduced for the 2002 census and were refined for the 2006 census. The response to question No. 15 on the census form provided a framework for the CSO to carry out a nationwide survey on disability and the field work for the national disability survey is being carried out in September and October 2006. The sample covers approximately 17,000 individuals and provides one example of the new kind of work being done. The Deputy also referred to nationalities etc. and religion. All other reports pertaining to specific aspects of the CSO's work will be published up to the end of 2007.

With the Ceann Comhairle's permission I wish to reply to the Deputy's question regarding the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the CSO. As the Deputy is aware, the Attorney General has advised that constituencies may only be revised on the basis of the final census figures, which are expected early next year. Constitutionally, the preliminary figures cannot be used to revise constituencies. The Electoral Act 1997 provides for the establishment of a constituency commission upon the publication of the census report that contains the final figures. The Act also sets out the considerations to which a commission must have regard in observing the relevant provisions of the Constitution. The Minister intends to establish such a commission to review and report on Dáil and European constituencies as soon as the relevant census report is published. Under the Act, the commission will be required to report to the Ceann Comhairle as soon as may be, and in any event, within six months of its establishment. The report will then be laid before each House of the Oireachtas.

As the Taoiseach has stated, it is not normal practice to publish legal advice and the Minister has no plans to so do. This is the position. It is planned to publish the principal demographic results within one year of the census and to release all publications arising from the 2006 census before the end of 2007. The published tables will be provided simultaneously on the CSO website. As the Deputy is aware, the CSO has an excellent website, www.cso.ie, which keeps everyone updated.

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