Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 181: To ask the Taoiseach if his attention has been drawn to the calls being made to identify the number and geographic spread of children and adults with autism spectrum disorders in view of the lack of clear information available on a nationwide basis; if he will request the Central Statistics Office to include such a category in the next census; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39068/09]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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As part of the preparatory work for the 2011 census the CSO conducted a public consultation by inviting members of the public and various interest groups to make submissions on the topics to be covered, and on the outputs to be produced. A notice to this effect was published in the national press in September 2008 seeking submissions, and all government departments were contacted for their input. This phase of the process has now concluded.

A Census Advisory Group was set up in autumn 2008 to consider the submissions received and advise on the questions to be tested in a pilot survey planned to be carried in April 2009. The Census Advisory Group is representative of central and local government, the social partners, universities, research bodies and other users of census data along with the relevant CSO personnel.

Over 90 submissions covering 31 topics were received in total, among them submissions on the subject of disability, and in particular on the subject of autism. A specific sub-group was convened to consider the disability questions on the census form. This sub-group was composed of representatives from the National Disability Authority, the Equality Authority, the Disability Federation of Ireland and the National Federation of Voluntary Bodies. The proposal to list specific disabilities within the disability question, namely to make specific reference to autistic spectrum disorder, or downs syndrome, in the category 'A learning or intellectual disability' was considered at the second meeting of the group.

The group concluded that it would not be appropriate, nor would there be enough room on the census form, to list all individual disabilities. However, in order to go some way towards accommodating this request the existing (2006) category 'A learning or intellectual disability' was split into two categories 'An intellectual disability' and separately 'A difficulty with learning, remembering or concentrating' for testing in the pilot survey. The group felt that this approach narrowed the categories and thus helped address the issue of autism, while allowing the question to remain as inclusive as possible.

The new wording of the disability questions which were tested in the Census Pilot Survey in April 2009 were as follows: Census Pilot Survey 2009 – wording of Disability questions (Form B) 14 Do you have any of the following long-lasting conditions or difficulties?