Census 2027 Public Consultation

This consultation is now closed.

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) invited submissions on the content of the form for the 2027 Census of Population between 30 November 2022 and 20 January 2023.

Next steps now that submissions have been received

The CSO will convene a Census Advisory Group (CAG) which will be made up of representatives of Government departments, local authorities, public bodies, the social partners, universities and research institutes, as well as CSO personnel. The CAG will examine the submissions and determine new questions or changes to existing questions. There will be a Pilot survey in selected areas in September 2024 which will test census enumeration procedures and the proposed content of the census form.

Between January 2023 and April 2023 all submissions will be summarised and presented to the Census Advisory Group for consideration. Feedback may be sought from different users of census data and sub-groups may be established to examine different topics in more detail.

In deciding on which questions to test in the Pilot survey the Census Advisory Group will take the following into account:

Data already available from existing sources;
Practicality (particularly the need to keep questions simple and unambiguous);
The need for the data at a small area level;
The cost and burden of responses on householders.

Results of Consultation

A report on the Pilot survey and the conclusions of the Census Advisory Group will be published on the CSO web site in early 2025. The final content of the 2027 Census form will be subject to Government approval.