Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)

I thank the Deputy. He is correct that the census figures will assist Government policy going forward. I met the board of the CSO and I wrote to a number of Ministers asking them to meet members of the board who have responsibilities for various elements of the census and the information that has been provided, whether that relates to health, education, enterprise, trade and employment and small business. The Government can use the information from the census when it is formulating policy and I hope Ministers will use the opportunity when meeting members of the board to use the information provided.

The CSO could also have a role to play in the Oireachtas committee system. I would like its staff to attend committee meetings to outline the information they received, for example, relating to the health, education, special needs and disability sectors. There was a question on the census form about disability and I would like that information to be used at committee level. It would also be opportune for the Opposition parties as well as the Government to use the information when they put policy together. Significant work has been done over the past few months on the census and this information can be of use. That is why I have written to a number of Ministers asking them to meet CSO personnel to use this information going forward.

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