Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)

Clearly, it is important if there is to be a complete set of figures that everybody fills in the census of population form. If people did not fill in the form, there will have to be a review as to why they did not do so. There was much advertising at the time on the need for people to fill in the form in order that services could be planned based on an actual population. Where is the evidence that the census figures are used for that purpose? For example, in the areas of health care, education and transport planning in my constituency, there is no evidence that the census of population is used. A reasonable complaint could be made to the Advertising Standards Authority on that basis.

I have no doubt the CSO does a good job in compiling the figures. How is it that the census figures of 2002 could not predict the need for schools in my area or in other areas where there is a rapid population growth? Perhaps the Minister of State will say how census figures will be used as I do not see the evidence. I encouraged people to fill in their forms, but I do not see that it has made a difference in that, as stated in the advertisements, services would be planned for people on the basis of where they live.

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