The purpose was to provide the Department of Supplies with a list of the names and addresses of people living in Ireland at the time so that wartime food and clothing ration books could be issued. The register was carried out by the Department of Industry and Commerce.
While this was not a census, the statistics branch of the Department published a report on their analysis of the population information that was gathered in the register. Data collected included name, address, date of birth and marital status. The blank Register of Population form can be seen in Appendix A of the report.
The legal basis for the Register of Population was the Emergency Powers (No. 116) Order, 1941. The order can also be seen in Appendix A of the report.
Register of Population 1941 Report
Register of Population 1941 Tables
Register of Population 1941 Appendices
A census took place in 1936 when censuses were carried out at 10-year intervals. The next census was in 1946. Five-yearly census intervals have been in place since 1951 in Ireland. These reports are available on the Historical Reports page.