Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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680. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the account taken of the census of population in the local property tax redistribution model; the way in which new needs associated with new populations are measured; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31399/17]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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681. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the consideration which is given following the publication of the census of population; the sections involved; if it prompts policy responses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31420/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 680 and 681 together.

The Statistics and Data Analytics Unit within my Department closely monitors all the outputs of the Central Statistics Office (CSO). The Unit is the primary point of contact between the Department and the CSO and as such is regularly in contact with that Office in relation to a variety of different issues, including assisting with queries of a statistical nature and developments such as the National Data Infrastructure.

Census results are of interest right across the Department but particularly inform policy considerations in respect of planning, housing, water, local government and franchise functions. Census data is centrally relevant to much of the planning arena both in relation to strategic planning such as for the National Planning Framework (NPF),but also in preparing for the forthcoming Regional, Spatial and Economic Strategies to be prepared by the three Regional Assemblies. As part of the formulation of the NPF, the finalised Census 2016 results are under review to ensure the most recent and accurate data is considered and reflected in any evidence-based proposals that may form part of the draft NPF and subsequent Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies.

In relation to housing, up-to-date Census information is utilised across all areas of policy development. In April and May of this year for example, the CSO released two major Census 2016 publications of relevance to the housing area. These were Census 2016 Profile 1 - Housing In Ireland and Census 2016 Profile 2 - Population Distribution and Movements both of which can be accessed via the following weblink: www.cso.ie/en/census/census2016reports/census2016publicationschedule. These reports contain important data in terms of the context in which housing policy is formulated and they will be a key data source to inform the recently announced review of Rebuilding Ireland.

My Department collaborates actively with the CSO and, by way of example, engaged extensively with the Office prior to Census 2016 being conducted, in view of the CSO’s intention to publish a specific Homeless Persons report. The Department is represented on the CSO's Housing Data Group and the CSO in turn participates in the Department's Housing Data Analytics Group.

Census data also informs policy considerations in the franchise area. The publication of preliminary census results triggers the establishment of a Constituency Commission under the Electoral Act 1997 and the Commission is required to present its report on Dáil and European Parliament constituencies within three months of publication of final census results. Other franchise considerations informed by Census data include, for example, voting age and citizenship requirements for voter registration and voting rights.

Census information also informs the preparation of terms of reference for any review of local electoral areas to be undertaken and provides a basis for the work of any Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee established by the Minister or any other local government review committee which may be established from time to time. Population changes are also one of a range factors that my Department considers in the context of Local Property Tax allocations, which are kept under review to ensure equitable treatment of all local authorities, recognising also that the resource requirements of local authorities vary significantly across the State.

Finally, regarding the water function in my Department, the Census results provide statistics on the number of households connected to different types of piped water supplies and to different types of sewerage facilities. This data is vital in relation to policy on public water and wastewater services, the group water sector, private wells and small private supplies.