Census 2011 dissemination strategy - Ireland Aidan Punch, Director of Census, Central Statistics Office, Ireland United Nations Geneva Wednesday 7 th July 2010

Layout of presentation

z z z z z z Background Census 2006 dissemination strategy Consultation on Census 2011 strategy Feedback from consultation Census 2011 strategy Main challenges

Background

z z z z z Five yearly censuses provide major opportunity to build census brand Enumerator delivery and collection of forms 6 month processing cycle using OCR First definitive outputs within 12 months All outputs cleared by 20 months

2006 dissemination strategy

z z z z z z z Preliminary data within 3 months Principal demographic results 11 months Principal socioeconomic results 14 months A further 13 reports 12-20 months Small area population statistics (68 tables, in 15 themes, for 10 different geographies 5% sample of anonymised records Research microdata file of place of work

Consultation on 2011 outputs

z z z z z Choice between web only and hard copy Choice of dissemination tool Census releases organised by theme?

Population profiles (snapshot reports)?

Small area data to be made available using GIS and mapping techniques?

Feedback from consultation

z z z z z z Level of response disappointing Varying interpretation of web tables Users indifferent to choice of dissemination software packages Enthusiastic welcome for Census Releases Likewise population profiles Prototype mapping tool (SAPMAP) well received

2011 dissemination strategy 1

z z z z Hardcopy reports reduced from 18 to 4 Census releases containing interpretation, analysis, 10 key tables, thematic maps and graphs, comparison with earlier years Precise number and sequencing to be decided Delivering planned releases in April to December 2012 very challenging

2011 dissemination strategy 2

z z z z Majority of census tables in interactive table format using PC-Axis Once table appears on screen user can print, download or customise Population profiles for selected geographical layers (mainly towns) Mainly discursive but with map, summary tables and charts

2011 dissemination strategy 3

z z 10% household public use sample to be lodged with IPUMS POWCAR (travel to work, school and college) research microdata file again to be made available

Main challenges 1

z z z z For a census to be successful every phase has to work well We need to work hard at understanding users’ needs and maintaining close liaison Navigating census results through online search facilities very important Users may link to census via other sites

Main challenges 2

z z z z Need for members states to make EU info available as speedily as possible Eurostat should invest in user friendly front end Use of mapping products to enhance census outputs an area for development Meeting users’ needs while maintaining confidentiality of individual data