Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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1. To ask the Taoiseach the number of census enumerators appointed in each local authority area for Census 2016; the number of persons who had applied for the job and were placed on a panel from which successful candidates were appointed; the factors in determining successful applicants; if priority consideration was given to persons not in full-time occupations or unemployed; the proportion of successful applicants who fell into these categories; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5641/16]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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A total of 4,661 census enumerators have been recruited for the 2016 census. All recruitment for the census field operation was carried out by the CSO under licence by the Commission for Public Service Appointments and complied with their strict recruitment principles regarding fairness, equality, openness and transparency.

Applications for enumerator positions were taken on-line from 9am on Tuesday 5^thJanuary 2016. It was advertised in advance that applications would close at 5pm on Friday 8^thJanuary or once the total number of applications reached 15,000. Applications were capped at 15,000 for operational reasons as all applicants for enumerator positions are called to interview.

Regarding the criteria for selection, the role of census enumerator requires a good general education, ability to follow detailed instructions, and other skills such as map reading. The job also entails a significant amount of walking or driving, interacting with a wide range of people, and also working to very strict deadlines. As the enumerators are the CSO representatives on the ground they must also be capable of representing the Office in a professional manner, and be completely trustworthy. They should ideally have experience of dealing with the public, enjoy being outdoors, and be available to work between 22 to 25 hours a week over the ten week period.

The CSO received applications from people in all situations – retired persons, the unemployed, homemakers, those in part-time work, and also people in full-time jobs.

All applicants for enumerator positions were assessed at interview. It was not open to the CSO to discriminate in favour of any one group and many enumerators in the past have successfully combined the job with other part-time or even full-time work. While it was not the only criterion used in assessing candidates, the availability of candidates to undertake the work was taken into account during the selection process.

The table below shows the number of applications and enumerators broken down by county. The CSO is currently compiling data on the breakdown of applicants by employment status and will make that available in due course.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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2. To ask the Taoiseach if he will give the 790 families residing in hotel emergency accommodation the opportunity to take part in Census 2016; if he will regard these families as visitors to the State and have them recorded as such; how he will manage the logistics of this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5726/16]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The coverage of the Census extends to everyone who is in the State on the night of 24th April and this includes all those currently experiencing homelessness. For the most part homeless persons will be identified by where they are on census night and this will be done by first identifying the establishments where homeless persons are accommodated, and then classifying all those within such accommodation as homeless. There is no facility on the census form for individuals to self-identify as homeless, so the above approach has been taken to ensure not only consistency across the sector in terms of definition but also to protect the individuals involved.

In addition, there are at present some 500 families being accommodated in what is termed Private Emergency Accommodation in Ireland, namely commercial hotels and B&Bs, which contain a mix of both regular guests and persons who are homeless. The CSO, in conjunction with both the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government and the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive, have put in place specific measures to enumerate this group by appointing three special enumerators who will deliver by hand and collect census forms to each family involved. The enumerator will contact the families in advance, will explain the census and the importance of participating, and then make arrangements to deliver the census form. They will then call back to collect the form at a later time. Where necessary the assistance of other local homeless service providers outside of Dublin will be sought.

The CSO is highly conscious of the sensitivity around this issue and the importance of protecting the confidentiality of the information of all those involved and will do our utmost to ensure that not only are all homeless persons counted in the 2016 census but also that their particular circumstances are recorded.

The CSO will publish a dedicated report on homelessness in Ireland using the data collected and this information will be critical to all those providing services in this area.