CSO to seek 4,600 enumerators for Census 2016

The Central Statistics Office is to recruit enumerators for a census in 2016.

The CSO said it will open its online application process on January 5th next at 9am. The census is to take place on Sunday, April 24th.

A total of 4,660 enumerators will be recruited to deliver and collect more than 2.3 million forms across a 10-week period.

Applications will close on Friday, January 8th, or when the number of applicants reaches 15,000.

The census provides information on a range of topics, from the number of people in the State on census night to the mode of transport used by workers to reach their jobs.

The information is used by every government department and local authority, and the data feeds into the planning stages of most aspects of Irish life, such as schools, train lines and childcare facilities.

Challenging undertaking

The census is the CSO’s largest and most challenging statistical undertaking and requires diligence on the part of enumerators.

Deirdre Cullen, head CSO statistician, said it was expected that demand for the posts would be high.

David Levy, who worked as an enumerator in Co Cork in 2011, said the experience was “as rewarding an experience as I have had in employment”.

He said he took great satisfaction in knowing he had “a small part to play in charting important social and economic changes in this country”.

Fixed fee

Enumerators are paid a fixed fee for the delivery and collection of census forms in their area, along with fixed allowances for training, home storage, Sunday working, terminal bonus and travel.

Enumerators will earn approximately €2,400 for the 10-week period. All enumerators are required to be signed up as officers of statistics, which forbids them from divulging any information obtained as part of their official duties.

More information on the role of the census enumerator can be found on census.ie