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

I thank the Deputy and acknowledge the points he raises. There was a consultation process and pilot survey and the Government decided on new questions and structure for the census that was meant to run this year. The questions have already been set, as agreed by the Government in 2019, and the process is being operationalised. Much of the material being used by the enumerators has already been printed and the structure of the process has been formalised.

I take the Deputy's point on the distinction between vacant and derelict properties. He is correct in saying we need greater detail. I did not see yesterday's contribution from Dublin City Council but I know from my experience as a member of the local authority in Fingal a number of years ago that there must be an updated register of what is a derelict property. I will certainly bring the Deputy's feedback to the CSO but there is an obligation on local authorities to work through what is derelict in their area. I do not have the detail on what definition is being used around vacant properties for the census that is taking place next year but I will ask for it to be sent to the Deputy. The Deputy mentioned the proceedings of yesterday's Oireachtas committee meeting and it will be important for local authorities to follow through on their obligations around the Housing for All plan and the importance of utilising both vacant, stocked and derelict properties to ameliorate the ongoing housing shortage.

The Government approval on content was granted in July 2019 and it set out the layout, design and structure of questions, as well as guidelines for enumerators. Printing has taken place and we are now about operationalising the census and there will not be a reopening of what has already been decided for the census due to take place next year. As the Deputy knows, it is an enormous operation. I will ask the CSO to engage with the Deputy nonetheless and I will try to get further detail on the current definition of a vacant property and the broader issue around assessment of derelict properties. The census is one element but the CSO has a broader remit around data collection so I will ask for further detail on that.

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