Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)

I am sorry to labour the point but I do not believe the Minister of State is accepting the argument as it is made. I have no problem with the questions chosen for the 2011 census or with whether they are set down by the EU or chosen by member states. All of that information is helpful. However, at some point an enumerator gives up. It would be immensely useful for local authorities, health services, social policy makers and us if an enumerator, having gone through a certain amount of effort, can reach the conclusion that 10% of dwellings in a particular county are unoccupied. What happens otherwise? Are the forms thrown out? I am asking the Minister of State to again take up this matter with the CSO. Will the Minister of State go back to the CSO and make the point that unlike many other countries in the EU, we had this massive building explosion and people are now emigrating? All one must do is go into a well-established housing estate to see houses where the curtains are discreetly closed or the shutters are discreetly pulled over, and know that they are no longer occupied but, because they cannot sell the houses, they are not up for sale. That is the common experience, quite apart from the big new estates that are three quarters empty.

It is crazy for us to embark on such a sophisticated fact-finding mission and omit that piece of the jigsaw. I acknowledge it is difficult, but all I ask the Minister of State to accept is that if it can be done - the work of enumerators is meticulous and forensic - we should have that kind of information brought in to ensure that we have some picture of Ireland today, including the surfeit of building stock that exists all over the country.

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