The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has asked for the full co- operation of the public in helping to fill out an estimated 1.5 million census forms on Sunday night. Carl O'Brien, Social Affairs Correspondent, reports
Officials are also taking steps to encourage foreign nationals to fill out the forms and assure all communities about the confidentiality of the results.
Statisticians expect the results to show the overall population has reached 4.2 million, the highest level in 135 years. It is estimated that up to 10 per cent, or 400,000 people, are foreign nationals. This figure is similar to countries with a long history of immigration, such as the US and Britain.
Evelyn Cronin of the CSO said: "The census is taking place at a time of unprecedented change and it's more important than ever that everyone is included. We want to measure these changes as accurately as possible."
The 2006 census is being translated into 11 foreign languages, such as Polish, Chinese and Arabic, for the first time, while information on the census has been translated into an additional five foreign languages.
Ms Cronin added: "We have taken as many steps as possible to ensure that everyone is included. We have also gone to a lot of trouble to reassure non-Irish nationals that any information they give on the census is completely confidential."
Under legislation, census information is strictly confidential and is used for statistical purposes only. No other government department or agency has access to identifiable information relating to individuals or households.
The CSO says the need for confidentiality has been stressed in the training of field staff.
The census is the CSO's largest statistical operation and involves about 5,000 temporary staff, including 4,500 enumerators who have almost completed distributing forms to every household and institution in the State. These enumerators are earning, on average, €2,200 for their work.
Any household that has not received a census form has been asked to contact the CSO at 1890 236 787, which will ensure that forms are available before Sunday evening.
The process of collecting the forms begins on Monday morning, starting with institutions such as hospitals and hotels. All forms are due to be collected by May 21st.
Householders are obliged by law to fill out the form. Failure to do so can carry fines of up to €25,000.
During the last census, the CSO brought two people to court, resulting in one person being fined €100, while a conscientious objector refused to pay a fine and spent two weeks in prison.
Preliminary estimates from the census results are expected by July of this year, while detailed results will be available in the following months.
The census is the first since 2002 - that one recorded a population of 3.9 million, of which about 6 per cent were foreign nationals. The census typically takes place every five years. However, the 2001 census was delayed due to the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.
The census planned for 1976 was cancelled at a late stage as a government economy measure.
However, the need for up-to-date population figures resulted in a census being specially undertaken in 1979 with a restricted number of questions.
Q&A Census 2006
When is the census? The census will take place on the night of Sunday, April 23rd, 2006. On this night, everybody in the State will be included on a census form, including people staying with friends or relatives, in a hotel, hospital, guesthouse or on board a vessel.
Why do I have to give my name? The name is necessary to ensure everyone in the household is covered and to assist the householder in ensuring the correct personal information for each individual is recorded, according to the CSO. The name also helps identify where forms are missing or duplicated. Names may assist in the identification of families within households. They are not retained as part of the computerised information.
Do people visiting the country on holiday or business have to be included in the census? Yes. The census counts everyone present in the country on census night, including people not usually resident.
What about my daughter who is a student who lives away from home during term time? If she is at home on census night she should be enumerated there. If she is elsewhere in the State, she should be counted wherever she spends that night. In this case, she should also be listed as an absent person at her home address (see census form).
Is it compulsory? Yes. Everybody present in the country on census night must be included. This is the law.
For further information, check the CSO's website (www.cso.ie) or call 1890 236 787 (from Monday to Friday: 8am - 8pm; Saturday, April 22nd: 9am to 8pm; Sunday, April 23rd: 9am to 6pm).