Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 1334: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if figures released by the Central Statistics Office in July 2006 via the Census 2006 Preliminary Report will be used by her Department for any reason; if so, what the figures will be used for; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29302/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department makes extensive use of data from the Census of Population for a variety of purposes including long-term projections of enrolment at national and local level. The Preliminary Census results for 2006 are also of use in identifying, early on, broad trends in total population by country and local area. However, the final results to be published from 2007 onwards will provide more precise information in relation to specific age-groups at local level.

Specifically, the following Sections make use of Preliminary Census data: Statistics Section in tracking overall population changes; The Commission on School Accommodation who use Census data to analyse population trends and distributions by county, town and electoral divisions in areas under its remit; and The School Planning Section in estimating likely enrolment and provision needs at local area level.

It should be borne in mind that Census data do not provide a completely precise guide to future enrolment patterns in any particular locality. Given the time lag involved from Census date to publication of detailed results by area and age as well as uncertainties about trends in enrolment across area boundaries, care is needed in making detailed projections into the future for any specific locality.