Developing the form

How the census form was developed

The development of the census form goes through several stages;

Public consultation and Census Advisory Group
Pilot survey
Agreement sought from government on which questions to include.

Public consultation and Census Advisory Group

In 2008, the CSO held a public consultation process on the content of the census questionnaire for Census 2011. Members of the public were invited to make submissions in response to the Public Consultation Notice which was published on 14 August 2008. Over 90 submissions were received and an advisory group composed of representatives from government departments, local authorities, public bodies, the social partners, universities and research institutes was set up to review these submissions. In advance of every census the CSO conducts a pilot survey among a small number of households in order to test new questions, changes to existing questions and changes to the field procedures of how we deliver and collect census forms. At its final meeting the Census Advisory Group considered the submissions received and agreed which questions would be tested in the pilot survey. In coming to their decisions the following factors were taken into account:

How many questions to ask?

• The 2011 census form contains 30 questions (23 for children under 15), spread over 3 pages for each person. Of these 30 questions the first 23 must be completed in respect of everybody including children, while the remaining 7 must be completed by all persons over age 15 as appropriate to them.
• The form contains enough pages for 6 persons. In households where there are more than 6 persons a separate Individual form will be available to enter the details of the additional persons.
• There are also 11 questions relating to the accommodation of the household.
• The number of questions is agreed by finding the right balance between the response burden on householders and meeting the needs of the users of census data.

What questions to ask?

In deciding on what questions to include a number of factors are taken into account:

• What information is required to be collected by law as set out in the relevant EU Regulation on the census.
• What information has been collected in previous census and in the census of other countries to ensure that key information can be compared and trends established over time.
• What information is deemed to play an important role in establishing a comprehensive picture of the social and economic life in Ireland and would assist in planning how to address important issues in the future.
• Whether the information can be obtained from any other source.
• Whether the information is needed at small area level or if national estimates suffice.
• Whether the questions would be acceptable and easily understood by householders.

The Census Pilot Survey

In preparation for Census 2011, the CSO conducted a census pilot survey on 19 April 2009. The idea behind holding a pilot survey is to test new questions and collection methods in a small number of selected areas to see what works and what does not. This means that problems can be sorted out before the full census takes place.

The 2009 survey took place in 32 enumeration areas (of a total 4,400) throughout Ireland and covered approximately 10,600 households (of a total one and a half million) in Dublin and Cork cities as well as Fingal, Monaghan, Kerry, Galway, Laois and Wicklow.

Click here to see a map of the areas included in the pilot.

As in the full census one enumerator was responsible for covering all of the households in their area.

The pilot survey tested changes to 15 of the 29 questions from census 2006 and included 3 new questions. The pilot also tested the use of the national address database (Geo-Directory) which is being used to assist in identifying all dwellings in each area. The Geo Directory is a national address database, with over 1.8 million residential properties identified. It has been developed by An Post and Ordanance Survey Ireland. Each address has been geo-coded which allows it to be digitally mapped.
 

Census Pilot Survey Forms

Agreement sought from Government on which questions to include.

Agreement sought from Government on which questions to include.  The Report of the Census 2009 Pilot Survey contained recommendations on which questions to include in the 2011 census. The content of the report was considered at a meeting of the Census Advisory Group on 25 September. The final step in the process was to seek Government agreement on the questions to be included. At its meeting of the 11 December the Government agreed on the date of the census and the questions to be included on the census form.