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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. Over 400 submissions were received.  The CSO would like to thank all who made submissions. 

The CSO convened a Census Advisory Group (CAG) which met in June 2023 to discuss the submissions. The group is made up of representatives of Government departments, public bodies, the social partners, research institutes and CSO personnel. Their remit is to assist the CSO in the framing of the Census 2027 questionnaire. Following on from the first meeting, a number of subgroups were formed to consider submissions in more detail.

The subgroups made a number of recommendations which were presented at the second meeting of the CAG in February 2024. At this meeting the CAG decided on the questions to be tested in the Census Pilot which took place in September 2024. When the results are analysed, the group will meet again to discuss the findings and recommend the final content of the Census 2027 questionnaire. These recommendations will be presented to government for final decision on the content of the questionnaire.

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 mid 2025. The final content of the 2027 Census form will be subject to Government approval.

Useful Resources

Copy of the Census 2022 form (PDF 4,886KB)  

Census Pilot Survey 2024 form