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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 6, inclusive, together.

On the advice of the Central Statistics Office, CSO, the Government decided on 15 September, to postpone the 2021 census to 3 April 2022. 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. Foremost in the decision making, 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 Irish 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 2022 to enable the CSO to undertake a comprehensive, inclusive and safe census in 2022 which will provide valuable and accurate data for our country in the years ahead.

Between censuses, the Central Statistics Office produces annual population estimates rolled forward from the previous census, which was in 2016. Consequently, the CSO will roll these 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 and definitive results on a phased basis from April to December 2023. Under framework Regulation (EC) No. 763/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council and implementing Regulation (EU) No. 2017/712, Ireland is required to transmit census data to EUROSTAT with a reference date in 2021.

This transmission must be made by March 2024. The Central Statistics Office, CSO, will work closely with EUROSTAT to mitigate the impact on the changed census date and consider the introduction of the additional methodologies and data sources in order to satisfy EUROSTAT's requirements.

The planning for census 2022 involves revising project timelines and the introduction of new approaches to reduce further potential disruption with the likes of online interviewing and training is now taking place.

See this speech in context