Tonight is 2016 Census night

As well as being the calendar anniversary of the Easter Rising, Sunday 24th April is Census night and the Central Statistics Office (CSO) is reminding people of Meath to fill out their form and 'Make their Mark'.

Some 4,663 enumerators delivered forms to over two million addresses across the country in the lead up to census night. The CSO is sharing advice to people on how to complete their census form.

Deirdre Cullen, CSO Senior Statistician with responsibility for the census said: “The census of population, carried out every five years, is very important because it shows how we, as a country, have changed and are changing over time. It allows us to plan for the Ireland of tomorrow and give vital input to important decisions on where to build new schools, where transport is needed, where the population is aging and in need of more support.”

The census form contains 30 questions which must be answered in respect of each individual who is present in the household on the night. In addition, there are eleven questions that relate to the dwelling itself, as well as a place for people who are temporarily away to be included as part of the household.

Up to six people can be included on the form and additional forms can be requested from the enumerator if required.

Deirdre Cullen continued: “The form is quite straightforward to fill out and most questions require just a simple mark. You can find more information about the questions on the form on the census web site – www.census.ie - or your enumerator will answer any questions you have. Alternatively, people can call the census helpline on local 1850 2016 04.”

For those whose first language is not Irish or English a translation of the census form is available in 21 different foreign languages. Other resources which are available to assist people with filling out the census form include large print, Braille and audio versions of the census form.

All of these resources and much more information about the census, including the results from the last census in 2011, are available on the census website at www.census.ie.

Five things to remember about filling out your census form:

1. Your census form must be completed on the night of Sunday, 24 April

2. Mark boxes with a  - rather than a tick

3. Use black or blue coloured pen only

4. Your enumerator is there to answer any question you have and the Census helpline is also available on Locall 1850 2016 04

5. If there are more than 6 people in your house on Sunday 24th April, ask your enumerator for a blue form for each additional person.

 

The importance of Census 2016 to Meath

By Deirdre Cullen, Senior Statistician, Central Statistics Office

On Sunday 24 Aprilt, every person in County Meath will make their mark by completing, or being included on, a census form. By participating in the census, we are helping to shape our understanding about life in Ireland in 2016, and show how Ireland has changed since the last census was taken in 2011.

The census is a fundamental part of our national heritage and collective knowledge. The 2016 census will take place exactly one hundred years to the day since the Easter Rising began, and the results will be of great interest to the historians of the future as they look back and reflect on life in Ireland in 2016.

Between now and 24 April, census enumerators will hand deliver census forms to every dwelling in Meath. Each household will be asked to fill out their census form on Sunday, 24 April. This is known as census night and everyone who is in Ireland on that night must be included on a census form. Between 25 April and 20 May, your enumerator will call back to collect your forms. The forms are then sent to the CSO warehouse where the information on them is captured and analysed.

The census provides vital information on a wide range of topics and issues and is used by every government department and local authority in the country, along with a wide range of both public and private service providers. Census data feeds into the planning stages of most aspects of Irish life, for example, new primary schools or nursing homes, trains and tram lines, childcare facilities or shopping centres.

The greatest strength of the census is the provision of detailed population figures at local level, and for minority groups. This data is used to identify the most appropriate locations for new local roads and bus routes, new primary schools and hospitals, areas of relatively high unemployment and the best locations for new factories.

The census is also the only means of accurately measuring the exact extent of migration. By comparing the results of successive censuses, and taking account of the number of births and deaths that have occurred over the same period, we can get an accurate measure of net migration (the difference between inward and outward migration).

The last census was taken five years ago, in 2011. It showed that the population of Meath was 184,135 (91,910 males and 92,225 females), an increase of 13.1% over the 2006 population. Navan had the highest density population within County Meath, with 28,559 people living in the town. The fastest growing town at the time was Ballivor which experienced 42.5% population growth between 2006 and 2011. 57% of people lived in urban areas of the county in 2011.

 

8.9% of all dwellings were vacant, while the national average was 14.5%.

 

The population of school children in Meath aged 13-18 increased by 0.8% between 2006 and 2011, compared to an average national increase of 9.5%. 17.5% of commuters took an hour or longer to get to work compared to the national average of 9.7%.

This level of information is very important in helping service providers to plan appropriately to meet the needs of the people of Meath, and it shows why it matters that everyone completes their census form.

The first results from Census 2016 will be published this July. It will take a further nine months to scan and capture the full set of data off the 2 million census forms. The detailed results will be published in March 2017.

More information about Census 2016 can be found on www.census.ie. Your census enumerator can also answer any questions you may have.