Over 90% of homes who have completed the form have done so online.
The pilot areas in Cork, Dublin, and Mayo have the best response rates.
Offaly has so far shown the lowest level of return.
Mobile phones are the most popular device used to complete the form at 63%.
Urban areas are responding better than rural ones.
It is taking an average of 22 minutes to complete the form.
Most people request their access code by text message (80%) while 20% prefer email.
Almost 800 paper forms have been issued to homes on request, which is 4% of the 20,000 homes in the pilot areas.
Eileen Murphy, Head of Census Administration said: “The Census Pilot Survey is continuing around the country. Although Census Pilot Survey Day has passed, there is still time to take part by completing a form, either online or on paper.
We have had strong interest and participation in the Pilot Survey, and we greatly appreciate everyone’s support and comments. However, we need as many people as possible, particularly in the selected areas, to complete the Census Pilot Survey so we can use their valuable feedback to shape Census 2027. This will be the first Irish Census in history to have an online option.
The CSO would like to thank everyone who has taken part, and for giving us such valuable feedback, which we will use to adjust and improve what we do and how we do it in Census 2027. I would also like to say a special thank you to our Census Field Supervisors and our Census Field Support officers for encouraging and supporting people to participate in the Census Pilot Survey."
The Census Pilot Survey is currently taking place in 44 locations across six counties - Cork, Dublin, Kilkenny, Louth, Mayo, and Offaly. These were selected as they broadly represent the people living in Ireland and include a mix of urban and rural locations. Maps of the areas selected to take part are available to view on censuspilot.ie.
As with all previous 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:
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. A report on the Census Pilot Survey will be published in 2025.
The Census Pilot Survey is part funded by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP).
| Kathleen Goulding | (+353) 1 895 1413 |
|---|---|
| Tony Downes | (+353) 1 895 1319 |
| censuspublicity@cso.ie | |
| pressoffice@cso.ie |
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Building on the response in the pilot areas, everyone in the country still has a chance to take part.
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) is calling on everyone to participate in the historic Census Pilot Survey 2024. You can complete the Census Pilot Survey, by logging onto censuspilot.ie and entering your Eircode.
Mobile phones have so far proved the most popular method of completing the Census Pilot Survey. This is the first time in Irish history that people have been given the opportunity to fill out their census form online, and 63% of people who have completed the form have opted to use their mobile phone to do so.
Of the six counties which were selected to take part in the Census Pilot Survey, (Cork, Dublin, Kilkenny, Louth, Mayo, and Offaly), Cork, Dublin, and Mayo have the highest response rates to date. So far, Offaly has the lowest response rates.
Urban areas are more likely to complete their forms than rural areas, although Drogheda in Louth is an exception.
The best performing local areas in each of the selected counties are:
While these are early indicators, we are urging anyone who has yet to complete their Census Pilot Survey form that there is still time to do so. The Census Field Support Officers are currently visiting homes in 44 pilot areas in the selected six counties to offer advice and assistance to anyone who would like to take part or may have started to fill in the form but have yet to complete it. Even those who have not received a letter of invitation can complete the Census Pilot Survey.