Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Tá sé go maith go bhfuilimid ag déanamh plé arís ar an gceist thábhachtach maidir le bailiúchán staitistic an Stáit chun déanamh cinnte go bhfuil plean ceart glactha amach anseo maidir le tithíocht agus maidir le conas a bheith cinnte go bhfuil pleanáil cheart déanta ar an gcóras ina iomlán nó ar an infreastruchtúr ina iomlán a bhfuil daoine ag brath air. Is trua nach ndearnadh go dtí seo é.

I welcome this debate on the Central Statistics Office. Theoretically, the census concluded on Sunday and all that remains to done is to collect the forms. I accept that there are significant costs associated with the distribution and collection of the forms and that processing of the data is an additional cost on each occasion statistics are collected. There are recurring costs in respect of the household budget survey. What we do with these statistics is key. The data circulated indicate that progress, in ensuring the availability of data, is being made. The impact indicators for the number of releases of data in the past three years and the number of visits to the CSO's website show a substantial decrease between 2013 and 2015. Perhaps the Minister of State might be able to explain the reason in 2013, for example, there were approximately 2.5 million visits to the website but only approximately 1.25 million in 2014 and 2015. That suggests the CSO needs to undertake some work in publicising its website and the wealth of information available online such that it becomes the central hub for statistics for every other organisation. The impact indicators for other services also show a substantial decrease on the 2013 figures.

It is important that politicians, planners, educationists and, in particular, local authorities use the information available. We have had many discussions in this Chamber and politics generally on spatial strategies. If we do not properly utilise the tools available, namely, the statistics, we can get it wrong and have done so during the years. The census provides information every ten years on the number of schoolgoing children in a particular location which, with other information, allows us to react quickly to need to provide additional schools, housing, roads, water networks and so on. It also provides indicators of possible future growth areas.

Last year I took part in a programme which involved the twinning of politicians from all parties with professors and lecturers in Maynooth University. The programme has gone a little haywire owing to the general election. The person with whom I was twinned worked in the mapping area. It was enlightening to see what could be done with statistics, if used correctly, in planning for the future. It is vital that not only we agree to the Supplementary Estimate but also we ensure other needs of the Central Statistics Office for additional funding are identified and addressed now. While we may not feel the effects of any shortfall now, we will into the future. It is important that the CSO have whatever expertise it requires.

We have often discussed in this House the need for the electoral commission to be put on a statutory footing. It could utilise the census data to identify the number of people in the State aged over 18 years and whether they are on the electoral register in the proper area.

I have had difficulty during the years in accessing particular statistics. While most statistics are available from the Oireachtas Library, I do not think pre-1950 data are. Perhaps the Minister of State might clarify the position. While I eventually found most of the data I needed, accessing it was difficult.

The commemoration programme for this year has ended. I have previously argued that, in the main, census information should not be released inside a 100-year timeframe. Given that people are living longer, we may need to consider whether an increase in that figure is required. At the very least, given the 15-year gap between the 1911 census undertaken by the British and the first census carried out in the new state, it would be appropriate to examine whether information within that timeframe should be released earlier given its historical value, in particular, information on the 1916 Rising and the First World War. Many Irish people died in fighting on the fields of France and Belgium, in particular.

I believe that would reflect a complete shift in the make-up of our society.

We then had the Tan War, the Civil War thereafter and all the other major events, including 1916 as well as continuing emigration. From the statistics that are currently available, we do not have a grasp of what the full effect was on different families, down to the individuals. It would be useful if we could look again at releasing that information coming up to the commemorative period around the end of the First World War and the start of war here in Ireland. Those figures would be very useful for historians, but also for many families. One of the surprising things for me - even though I always believed people were interested - was the number of people who have looked at the military pension service records since they were released by the State. People want to find out about their families and what happened to them at that stage. The release of the 1926 figures earlier than 2026 would be useful. There is a cost involved and it is not going to happen this year. Perhaps the Minister could look at it and indicate to the CSO that there is political support - as far as I remember from previous debates on this - and that we might prepare for an early release of that information.

I welcome the Revised Estimate and the opportunity to speak on it. Hopefully, as we go forward over the next year, the figures can be released as early as possible. The CSO has been very good at releasing figures of late. We must ensure that when they are released, they do not sit on a shelf but are used by those who are required to use it, particularly city and county planners and the Department of Education and Skills.

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