Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 23, 24 and 26 together.

On the advice of the Central Statistics Office, CSO, the Government decided on 15 September to postpone the 2021 census until 3 April 2022. The census of population is a unique count of everyone present in Ireland on census night and provides essential information for planning and decision-making. It is vital that the census enables everyone in Ireland to participate in order that the information gathered reflects all our needs and can be used to make decisions that benefit us all.

The decision to postpone the census scheduled for 18 April 2021 until 3 April 2022 was not taken lightly and was based on a number of factors. First and foremost for consideration was the need to ensure the safety of the general public and CSO field staff, coupled with the need to deliver a census that achieves the highest possible response rate across all facets of society. Furthermore, the census of population is a major logistical operation and Covid-19 restrictions have prevented or delayed many key planning activities from taking place over recent months. On consideration of these challenges, the Government decided to postpone the 2021 census until April the following year in order to enable the CSO to undertake a comprehensive, inclusive and safe census in 2022 that will provide valuable and accurate data for our country in the years ahead.

Between censuses, the CSO produces annual population estimates rolled forward from the previous census. In this instance, the CSO will roll the 2016 estimates forward for an additional year until they can be recalibrated with the new detailed census data, preliminary results of which will be available in mid-2022, with definitive results coming on a phased basis from April to December 2023. It is expected that the delay of one year will result in a similar delay in the next report of the Constituency Commission.

Under Regulation No. 763/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council, implementing Regulation No. 2017/712, Ireland is required to transmit census data to EUROSTAT with a reference date in 2021. The transmission must be made by March 2024. The CSO will work closely with EUROSTAT to mitigate the impact of the changed census date and will consider the introduction of additional methodologies and data sources in order to satisfy EUROSTAT's requirements.

Work on planning for census 2022 is under way. This involves revisiting project timelines and investigating the introduction of new approaches, including online interviewing and training, to reduce further potential disruptions.

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