Census 2022 Household Form Questions

The following are the Census 2022 questions in text format.The instructions on the questions are in italics.

A Sample Census 2022 Household Form (PDF 4,886KB) is also available to download in PDF format

Household Questions on the Census 2022 form. Questions 1 - 10

 

The first 10 questions from H1 to H10 on the census form are about your household.

Household Question 1. When was your house, flat or apartment first built?

Mark the year in which first built even if the building was subsequently converted, extended or renovated. Please note that the following options 1 to 10 have fill in boxes on the census form.

1. Before 1919
2. 1919 – 1945 inclusive
3. 1946 – 1960 inclusive
4. 1961 – 1970 inclusive
5. 1971 – 1980 inclusive
6. 1981 – 1990 inclusive
7. 1991 – 2000 inclusive
8. 2001 – 2010 inclusive
9. 2011 – 2015 inclusive
10. 2016 or later

 

Household Question 2. Does your household own or rent your accommodation?

Mark one box only. Please note that the following options 1 to 4 have fill in boxes on the census form.

1. Own with mortgage or loan
2. Own outright
3. Rent
4. Live here rent free

 

Household Question 3. If renting, who is your landlord?

Please note that the following options 1 to 3 have fill in boxes on the census form.

1. Private landlord
2. Local Authority
3. Voluntary/Co-operative housing body

 

If your accommodation is rented, how much rent does your household pay?

Enter amount to the nearest Euro in the box provided here on the census form.

Mark one box only. Please note that the following options 1 to 3 have fill in boxes on the census form.

1. Per week
2. Per month
3. Per year

 

Household Question 4. How many working smoke alarms are in your accommodation?

Write in number of smoke alarms in the box provided on the census form. If none, mark the box provided on the census form for none.

 

Household Question 5. How many rooms do you have for use only by your household?

Do NOT count bathrooms, toilets, kitchenettes, utility rooms, consulting rooms, offices, shops, halls, landings or rooms that can only be used for storage such as cupboards.

Do count all other rooms such as kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms, studies and conservatories you can sit in.

If two rooms have been converted into one, count them as one room.

Fill in the Number of rooms in the box provided on the census form.

Fill in Of which are bedrooms in the box provided on the census form.

 

Household Question 6. What is the main type of fuel used by the central heating in your accommodation?

Mark one box only. Please note the following options 1 to 8 are fill in boxes on the census form while option 9 is a write in box.

1. No central heating
2. Oil
3. Natural gas
4. Electricity
5. Coal (including anthracite)
6. Peat (including turf)
7. Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG)
8. Wood (including wood pellets)
9. Other

 

Household Question 7. Does your accommodation use any of the following renewable energy sources?

Mark the boxes that apply. Please note the following options 1 to 7 are fill in boxes on the census form while option 8 is a write in box.

 

1. No
2. Solar panels for water heating
3. Solar panels for electricity
4. Wind turbine
5. Air source heat pump
6. Ground source heat pump
7. Wood
8. Other

 

Household Question 8. What type of piped water supply does your accommodation have?

Mark one box only. Please note the following options 1 to 5 have fill in boxes on the census form.

1. Public supply
2. Public Group Scheme
3. Private Group Scheme
4. Private source (eg well, lake, rainwater tank, etc)
5. No piped water supply

 

Household Question 9. What type of sewerage facility does your accommodation have?

Mark one box only. Please note the following options 1 to 5 have fill in boxes on the census form.

1. Public sewer
2. Individual septic tank
3. Individual treatment system other than a septic tank
4. Other sewerage facility
5. No sewerage facility

 

Household Question 10. How many cars or vans are owned or are available for use by one or more members of your household?

Include any company car or van if available for private use

Mark one box only. Please note the following options 1 to 5 have fill in boxes on the census form.

1. One
2. Two
3. Three
4. Four or more
5. None

 

Person Questions on the Census 2022 form. Questions 1 to 37.

These are questions about the person or the people in the household. The form begins with Person 1 and repeats the same questions for Person 2, 3,4, 5 and 6 and allows for up to six people in total on the household census form. The only exception/difference in the questions is that Person 1 does not complete the relationship question which is Question 4 whereas others in the household do.

It is also important to note that a small number of questions are not in fact questions but are instructions instead on what to answer next on the form depending on your circumstances. These are Question 25, Question 29, Question 33, Question 35 and Question 38.

Question 1. What is your name?

Question 2. What is your sex?

Male or Female

Question 3. What is your date of birth?

Question 4. What is your relationship to Person 1?

For Person 1 on the census form, the relationship question does not exist. Persons 2,3,4 and 5 (if they are present) answer this question in relation to the previous members of the household. For Example, Person 2 will mark their relationship with Person 1, Person 3 will mark their relationship with Person 1 and 2 etc.

Mark one box only in the options 1 to 10 following on the census form. This is answered for every person in the household except Person 1 up to a maximum of 5 people. The household census form caters for six people in a household.

Relationship to Person 1

1. Husband or wife Partner (including same-sex partner)
2. Son or daughter
3. Step-child
4. Brother or sister
5. Mother or father
6. Step-mother/father
7. Grandchild
8. Other related
9. Unrelated (incl. foster child)

 

Question 5. What is your current marital status?

Answer if aged 15 years or over. Mark one box only. Please note that the following options 1 to 7 have fill in boxes on the census form.

1. Single (never married or never in a same-sex civil partnership)
2. Married (first marriage)
3. Re-married
4. In a registered same-sex civil partnership
5. Separated
6. Divorced
7. Widowed

 

Question 6. What is your place of birth?

Give the place where your mother lived at the time of your birth.

If IRELAND (including Northern Ireland), write in the COUNTY. If elsewhere ABROAD, write in the COUNTRY.

 

Question 7. Where do you usually live?

Please note that the following options 1 to 3 are fill in and write in boxes on the census form.

1. HERE at this address
2. Elsewhere in IRELAND (including Northern Ireland), write in your FULL ADDRESS
3. Elsewhere ABROAD, write in the COUNTRY

 

Question 8. Where did you usually live one year ago?

Answer if aged 1 year or over. Please note that the following options 1 to 3 are fill in and write in boxes on the census form.

1. SAME as now
2. Elsewhere in IRELAND (including Northern Ireland), write in the COUNTY
3. Elsewhere ABROAD, write in the COUNTRY

 

Question 9. Have you ever lived outside the Republic of Ireland for a continuous period of one year or more?

Answer if aged 1 year or over and living in the Republic of Ireland

Fill in box 1 for Yes or Box 2 for No

If ‘Yes’, write in the YEAR of last taking up residence in the Republic of Ireland and the country of your last previous residence. A write in box is available on the census form.

 

Question 10. What is your country of citizenship?

If you have dual country of citizenship, please declare both. Options 1 and 3 following are boxes provided on the census form for a mark. Option 2 is a write in box.

1. Ireland
2. Other CITIZENSHIP, write in
3. No citizenship

 

Question 11. What is your ethnic group/ background?

Choose ONE section from A to D, then mark the appropriate box for the options within the section on the census form. A number are write in boxes depending on the option.

1. White
   1. Irish
   2. Irish Traveller
   3. Roma
   4. Any other White background
2. Black or Black Irish
   5. African
   6. Any other Black background
3. Asian or Asian Irish
   7. Chinese
   8. Indian/Pakistani/Bangladeshi
   9. Any other Asian background
4. Other, including mixed group/background
   10. Arabic
   11. Mixed, write in description
   12. Other, write in description

 

Question 12. What is your religion, if any?

Mark one box only. Please note that the following options 1 to 6 have fill in boxes to mark on the census form. Option 7 is a write in box.

1. No religion
2. Roman Catholic
3. Church of Ireland
4. Islam
5. Orthodox Christian
6. Presbyterian
7. Other, write in your RELIGION

 

Question 13. Can you speak Irish?

Answer if aged 3 years or over. If yes, mark box 1 on the census form or if no, mark box 2 on the census form.

If ‘Yes’, do you speak Irish?

Mark the box on the census form that applies from the options 1 to 5 following.

1. Daily, within the education system
2. Daily, outside the education system
3. Weekly
4. Less often
5. Never

If ‘Yes’, how well do you speak Irish?

Mark the box on the census form that applies from the options 1 to 3 following.

1. Very well
2. Well
3. Not well

 

Question 14. Do you speak a language other than English or Irish at home?

Mark box 1 for yes or box 2 for No.

1. Yes
2. No

If yes - What is this language?

Mark one box only on the census form from the options 1 to 4 following.

1. Very well
2. Well
3. Not well
4. Not at all

 

Question 15. Do you have any of the following long-lasting conditions or difficulties?

Each long-lasting condition/difficulty (a) to (g) below has three answer box options, mark one box for each condition from Box 1 Yes, to a great extent, Box 2 Yes, to some extent or Box 3 No.

1. Blindness or a vision impairment
2. Deafness or a hearing impairment
3. A difficulty with basic physical activities such as walking, climbing stairs, reaching, lifting or carrying
4. An intellectual disability
5. A difficulty with learning, remembering or concentrating
6. A psychological or emotional condition or a mental health issue
7. A difficulty with pain, breathing or any other chronic illness or condition

 

Question 16. As a result of a long-lasting condition, do you have difficulty doing any of the following?

Include issues due to old age.

Each difficulty (a) to (d) below has three answer box options, mark one box for each difficulty from Box 1 Yes, to a great extent, Box 2 Yes, to some extent or Box 3 No.

1. Dressing, bathing or getting around inside the home
2. Going outside the home to shop or visit a doctor’s surgery
3. Working at a job or business or attending school or college
4. Participating in other activities, for example leisure or using transport

 

Question 17. How is your health in general?

Mark one box only. Please note that the following options 1 to 5 have fill in boxes on the census form.

1. Very good
2. Good
3. Fair
4. Bad
5. Very bad

 

Question 18. Do you smoke tobacco products?

Mark one box only. Please note that the following options 1 to 4 have fill in boxes on the census form.

1. Yes - daily
2. Yes - occasionally
3. No - have given up smoking
4. Never

 

Question 19. How do you usually travel to work, school, college or childcare?

Mark one box only from the following options 1 to 6 on the census form, for the longest part, by distance, of your usual journey.

1. Not at work, school, college or childcare
2. On foot
3. Bicycle
4. Bus, minibus or coach
5. Train, DART or LUAS
6. Motorcycle or scooter
7. Driving a car
8. Passenger in a car
9. Van
10. Other (including lorry)
11. Work mainly at or from home

 

Question 20. What time do you usually leave home?

Use 24-hour clock, e.g. 08:30 in the fill in box.

 

Question 21. How long does your journey take?

Write in the minutes. Write in the minutes in the box provided on the census form.

 

Question 22. What time do you usually leave work, school, college or childcare?

Use 24-hour clock, e.g. 17:30

Write in the time in the box provided on the census form.

 

Question 23. Do you provide regular unpaid personal help or support to a family member, neighbour or friend with a long-term illness, health issue, an issue related to old age or disability?

If Yes, mark box 1, if no, mark box 2.

If ‘Yes’, for how many hours per week?

For Example; Care provided on a 24-hour basis, 7 days a week equates to 168 hours.

Write in the hours in the box provided on the census form.

 

Question 24. Do you regularly engage in helping or voluntary work in any of the following activities without pay?

There are 6 options following on the census form. Mark all the boxes that apply.

1. A social or charitable organisation
2. A religious group or church
3. A sporting organisation
4. A political organisation
5. In your community
6. No

 

Question 25.

This is not a question, it is an instruction on the form to say that If you are aged under 15, proceed directly to Question 36, if you are 15 and over, answer the next questions.

 

Question 26. Have you ceased your full-time education?

If the answer is yes, mark box 1 on the census form, if the answer is no, mark box 2.

If ‘Yes’, write in AGE at which it ceased.

 

Question 27. What is the highest level ofeducation/training (full-time or part-time) which you have completed to date?

Mark one box only from the options 1 to 11 following on the census form.

1. No formal education/ training
2. Primary education, NFQ Levels 1 or 2
3. Lower Secondary, NFQ Level 3, Junior/Inter/Group Certificate
4. Upper Secondary, NFQ Levels 4 or 5, Leaving Certificate
5. Technical or Vocational, NFQ Levels 4 or 5
6. Advanced Certificate/Completed Apprenticeship, NFQ Level 6
7. Higher Certificate, NFQ Level 6,
8. Ordinary Bachelor, Degree or National Diploma, NFQ Level 7
9. Honours Bachelor, Degree/Professional qualification or both, NFQ Level 8
10. Postgraduate Diploma or Masters’ Degree, NFQ Level 9
11. Doctorate (PhD) or higher, NFQ Level 10

 

Question 28. How would you describe your present principal status?

Mark one box only in the options 1-9 following on the census form. Option 9 is 'Other' a write in box.

1. Working for payment or profit
2. Looking for first regular job
3. Short-term unemployed (less than 12 months)
4. Long-term unemployed (12 months or more)
5. Student or pupil
6. Looking after home/family
7. Retired from employment
8. Unable to work due to permanent sickness or disability
9. Other, write in

 

Question 29.

This is an instruction regarding filling out the census form and is not a question. It says the following:

If you are working, go directly to Question 30.

If you are unemployed or retired, go directly to Question 31.

If you are a student, go directly to Question 36.

Otherwise, go directly to Question 38.

 

Question 30. If you are at work, do you ever work from home?

Mark box 1 for yes or box 2 for no on the census form.

If ‘Yes’, how many days per week do you usually work from home?

Write in the number of days in the box provided on the census form.

 

Question 31. Do (did) you work as an employee or are (were) you self-employed in your main job?

Your main job is the job in which you usually work(ed) the most hours.

Mark one box only in the options 1 to 4 following on the census form.

1. Employee
2. Self-employed, with paid employees
3. Self-employed, without paid employees
4. Assisting relative (not receiving a fixed wage or salary)

Is (was) your status full-time or part-time?

Mark one box only in the options 1 to 2 following on the census form.

1. Full-time
2. Part-time

 

Question 32. What is (was) your occupation in your main job?

In all cases describe the occupation fully and precisely, giving the full job title

For example: RETAIL STORE MANAGER, SECONDARY TEACHER, ELECTRICAL

Civil servants and local government employees should state theirgrade e.g. SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER. Members of the Gardaí or DefenceForces should state their rank.

Write in your main OCCUPATION in the space provided on the census form.

If you are a farmer, write in the SIZE of the farm in either Acres or Hectares in the box provided.

1. 1 Acres
2. 2 Hectares

 

Question 33.

This is an instruction and not a question. It states that if you are retired, go directly to Question 38.

Question 34. What is (was) the business of your employer at the place where you work(ed) in your main job?

If you are (were) self-employed, answer in respect of your own business. Describe the main product or service provided by your employer. For example: MAKING COMPUTERS, REPAIRING CARS, SECONDARY EDUCATION, FOOD WHOLESALE, MAKING PHARMACEUTICALS, CONTRACT CLEANING, SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT. A write in box is provided on the census form.

Question 35.

This is an instruction only.If you are unemployed, go directly to Question 38.

Question 36. What is the FULL NAME and ADDRESS of your place of work, school, college or childcare?

If you are in both school and childcare, write in the name and address of your school.

Write in boxes are provided on the census form for Full name, Address and Eircode or two further mark in box options which are option 1 Mainly at or from home or Option 2 No fixed place of work.

 

Question 37. If you are aged under 15, are you in any type of childcare?

If yes, mark box 1 or if no, mark box 2.

If ‘Yes’, what is the main type of childcare?

Mark one box only of options 1 to 6 following provided on the census form. Option 6 is 'Other' and is a write in box.

1. Unpaid relative or family member
2. Paid relative or family member
3. Childminder (in childminder’s home)
4. Au pair/Nanny/Childminder (in child’s home)
5. Crèche/Montessori/Playgroup/After school
6. Other (including special needs facility, breakfast clubs, etc)

And for how many hours per week during term times?

Write in hours in the box provided on the census form.

 

Question 38.

This is an instruction only as the set of questions are now complete for one person. The instruction tells the person completing the form to begin the set of questions again on the next page of the form for the next person in the household or if there is no one else proceed to sign off the form to complete.