Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 84: To ask the Taoiseach when he plans to appoint a second Secretary General in his Department; the remit of the new post; the area of responsibility that will be under the new Secretary General; the recruitment process for the new position; and the level of remuneration for the post. [19072/11]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 89: To ask the Taoiseach when he envisages the appointment of a second Secretary General to his Department; the salary for that position; if he will outline the recruitment procedure for the position; and the responsibilities of the second Secretary General within his Department. [18653/11]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 84 and 89 together.

The post of Second Secretary General in my Department will have responsibility for coordination of EU Affairs from a whole-of-Government perspective, reporting to the Tánaiste and myself as appropriate, and also for supporting the work of the Government Economic Management Council.

In addition to these central coordinating functions, the Second Secretary General will also support the Tánaiste in his engagement with whole-of-Government issues, including Cabinet Committees. The Second Secretary General will be a member of the Management Advisory Committee of my Department.

I expect to recommend an appointment to the Government in the very near future. The salary for the post will be €180,000 before imposition of the pension levy. ^^ Census 2011 ^^

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 85: To ask the Taoiseach the contact he had with the Central Statistics Office in relation to the 2011 Census and their assessment of its success; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18301/11]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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My functions in relation to the Central Statistics Office (CSO) were delegated to the Government Chief Whip, Minister of State Paul Kehoe T.D., on the 22 March 2011 under the Statistics (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2011, as per section 2(1) of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1977 (No. 28 of 1977).

It is my understanding that Minister Kehoe has met with the CSO twice in relation to Census 2011.

The Census which took place on Sunday 10 April was a very successful operation. Enumerators were in the field for a period of 10 weeks from Friday 11 March to Friday 13 May. Forms were delivered to and collected from 1.7 million occupied dwellings. In addition enumerators accounted for the dwelling status of all dwellings in the state as to whether they were occupied, vacant, a vacant holiday home or temporarily absent on Census night.

The reception at the doorstep to the Census was generally very good due to the success of the Census Publicity campaign which focused on the community value of Census data.

All Census field staff had finished work by Friday 3rd June at which stage all forms, materials and equipment was back at base in CSO.

The field operation finished up on time and well within budget. The preliminary count of the Census based on a clerical summary prepared by Enumerators was published on 30th June which is very good by international standards.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 86: To ask the Taoiseach when he expects the Central Statistics Office to be in a position to publish the preliminary results of Census 2011. [18302/11]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The Preliminary results of the census were published on Thursday 30 June. This was just 12 weeks after Census day, Sunday 10th April.

The results provided total population of males and females by County, Constituency and Electoral Division. The results also provided the housing stock, the number of vacant dwellings and the vacancy rate at County level.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 87: To ask the Taoiseach the number of persons who have failed to return their census forms to the Central Statistics Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18303/11]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Approximately 6,400 households which were considered to have been occupied on Census Night failed to return a completed census form for a variety of reasons. The reasons included householders who moved or died before the enumerator returned to collect the Census Form.

There were a small number of householders who refused to complete a Census Form, a number of which are being examined with a view to prosecution under the Statistics Act 1993.

In all cases where the enumerator was sure a dwelling was occupied on Census Night but the enumerator failed to get a completed Census Form, enumerators were instructed to record the approximate age, sex and nationality of the occupants by making discrete enquiries locally. The estimated number of persons in these households which failed to make a return was 13,800 representing less than a third of one percent of the total population.

This number ranks very well by international standards and results from a very tight field operation with 440 field supervisors and 4,854 census enumerators on the ground for a period of five weeks both before and after Census day.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 88: To ask the Taoiseach the penalties which can be incurred by persons who do not return their census forms to the Central Statistics Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18304/11]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The Statistics Act 1993 provides that any person who fails or refuses to provide the information in response to a direction from the Director General from the Central Statistics Office (which includes information on the census form) may be subject to a fine of up to €25,000.

The legislation provides for a fine not exceeding €1,250 on summary conviction and not exceeding €25,000 on conviction on indictment.