Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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1. To ask the Taoiseach the position regarding, and reason for, the new requirements on census enumerators having to scan in barcodes on census forms; the impact this has on their workload; and if his attention has been drawn to the way this significantly increases the number of hours worked without increasing their remuneration. [16891/22]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Central Statistics Office (CSO) require a barcode on each census form to support the enumerator in the delivery and collection phase of the Census field operation. This barcode acts as a unique identifier for each census form delivered. The enumerator is required to scan the census form when delivering the form to a household / establishment and again when collecting the census form. Should the barcodes not match, the enumerators are required to undertake additional checks as to why a discrepancy exists. The aim of this check is to ensure each enumerator can account for all forms they delivered.

The enumerator is trained and instructed to scan the bar code using the field application. However, if the enumerator has any difficulty, they can avail of the option of typing in the 8 digit barcode. In cases where difficulties arose, further support is available to enumerators from their supervisors.

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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2. To ask the Taoiseach the position in relation to the pay of census enumerators, which is deferred for the first two weeks; and if he will examine expediting this in view of the current cost of living crisis. [16892/22]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Enumerators are paid by way of a combination of fees (based on the number of households in their assigned work area), fixed allowances, and a terminal payment payable on satisfactory completion of all assigned duties. While the total payments to individual Enumerators will vary, the average gross payment (incl. allowances) is expected to be in the region of €3,200. This is based on 22 hours per week for approx. 10 weeks.

Gross fees, allowances and terminal allowance due will be calculated when all duties have been satisfactorily completed. A weekly advance of €140.00 gross (payable weekly in arrears and deductible from the final net amounts due) is made in the interim. Appropriate deductions for PAYE and PRSI will apply. Enumerators are paid a pre-determined travel allowance of which 50 percent is paid in week 5 of their contract term.

Enumerator fees and allowances have been sanctioned by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Enumerator payments are part of the approved budgetary allocation to the Central Statistics Office.