Press Statement Launch of Census Pilot Survey 2024

About the Census Pilot Survey

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) is today (02 September 2024) announcing our Census Pilot Survey. This is a crucial part of our preparation for Ireland’s next census. Census 2027 will be the first census in Irish history where the public will have the option to complete their census form online. 

The CSO is conducting this Census Pilot Survey to test new questions and to see how well this online option works. We are asking every household selected for this Survey to take part so we can evaluate our online option. The online form can be completed on a variety of devices such as mobile phones, tablets or laptops. People can also complete a paper form and both the online and paper forms are available in Irish and English. 

The Census Pilot Survey will take place throughout September in 44 locations across six counties. The 20,000 households in these areas of Cork, Dublin, Kilkenny, Louth, Mayo, and Offaly were selected as they broadly represent the people living in Ireland and are a mix of urban and rural locations.  Maps of the areas selected to take part are available to view on censuspilot.ie. 

Letters of invitation have been posted to homes in the selected pilot areas, which explain how to complete the form online. Also, for the first time, forms should be completed for where you usually live and can be completed anytime between now and the official Census Pilot Survey night of 22 September 2024.  

Census Support Officers (formerly enumerators) will visit homes from 16 September to tell people about the Census Pilot Survey taking place in their area and encourage them to complete their forms. They will be wearing a yellow high-viz vest clearly branded as Census and will be carrying official CSO ID cards which you should ask to see.  

As with all Census Pilot Surveys, the CSO will test new and changed questions ahead of Census 2027. This is to ensure the census accurately reflects our changing society. New questions on this Census Pilot Survey include:

• where a household's car/s is/are parked overnight to gather insights on potential placement of electric chargers
• whether your gender is the same or different to the sex recorded at birth
• sexual orientation
• how you would self-report your mental health. 

These new questions, as well as updates to existing census questions, are the result of a public consultation on the potential content of the Census 2027 form. Once the responses are analysed, they will be used to guide the final recommendations of the Census Advisory Group. The final content of the Census 2027 form will be subject to Government approval.

Statistician’s Comment

Jennifer Banim, Director General of the CSO, said: “This Census Pilot Survey marks a significant milestone in our delivery of an online option for Census 2027.  We are calling on households selected to take part by completing the form either online or on paper. Your participation will help us test this new, historic phase of census collection in Ireland.” 

Eileen Murphy, Head of Census Administration, said: “If you receive our letter of invitation for the Census Pilot Survey, please take part. We need your help and we cannot do this without you.  By taking the time to complete the Survey, you will give us essential feedback on the online form, and the new questions. 

Traditionally, the purpose of a pilot census has been to test new and changed questions for the next census. In the case of this Census Pilot Survey, not only will the Survey help us test new questions, it also has the added importance of testing an online option for the first time in the history of the Irish census. 

While our methods may change, our commitment to confidentiality, integrity, and independence remains constant.  The CSO has a proven track record in data protection and has been trusted for 75 years to gather, analyse, and publish statistics about Irish life and society.