Stone Age Census

[cyberianpan]

For a country that often vaunts its IT strengths the method of compiling the census strikes me as outdated


Targeting "households" also reminds me a little of the dancing at crossroads civilisation. Modern dwellings are much harder to find in urban areas. E.g. "are the top floors of that building offices or residences ?" , also even if they gain access once to a large appartment complex tracking down all the people inside must be very difficult. It strikes me that this is likely to produce a skewed census as the deomographic of single/childless 20-35 year olds is most likely to live in this sort of accomadation.

At the very least the suggestion that was aired again at the PD conference of basing the cenus/electoral register on PPS numbers is a pretty basic starting point. The State uses these numbers for transactions: tax, social welfare etc. worth 10's of thousands of euro per person , per year. Concerns about segregation of data could be readily addressed (i.e. the Taxman is not entitled to know that you are a one-legged, black, lesbian , jew who diesn't have the cupla focail).


In fact a very, very small amount of thought could have engendered a sgnificantly enhanced enumeration benefits to all. Instead this €50,000,000 is going to produce flawed product and to my mind skewed statistics are worse than no statistics as they are far more dangerous.



CyP

[Catalpa]

No doubt about it the days of going house to house and expecting a 99% accurate return are well and truly gone.

There is no way this Census is going to produce even close to an accurate picture of the numbers now living here.

I for one will be watching the statistics released like a hawk to expose the contradictions. :twisted:

The CSO might as well be honest with the Irish Public and admit they are, as presently constituted, just not up to the job.

[Reggie Perrin]

The CSO might as well be honest with the Irish Public and admit they are, as presently constituted, just not up to the job.

I'll tell me uncle in the CSO on ya!

:wink: