Census workers told: beware angry pets
New Fine Gael chief whip Paul Kehoe had a word of warning for the thousands of invigilators who will deliver the new census form to homes across the country from today -- stay away from angry household pets.
The Fine Gael Wexford TD was re-elected last month but admitted some of his team were bitten while on the cavassing trail.
"Invigilators will have to face both the elements and household pets," Mr Kehoe said yesterday, launching the census. "Two of my canvassers were badly bitten during the campaign."
Census night is April 10 and it is the first full analysis of Irish households since 2006.
From today, 5,500 invigilators will start knocking on doors with the census form.
The forms will be collected in the three-to-four weeks after April 10 and assessed by staff at the Central Statistics Office.
Preliminary results of the census will be available from July next.
Mr Kehoe, who is also Minister of State at the Department of An Taoiseach, said the information provided on the census forms would be key to policy decisions that would be made by the new Government.
"As a society we are faced now with making crucial decisions about our future and it is imperative that we have accurate and objective information on which to base those decisions."
- Ailish O'Hora Public Affairs Correspondent
Irish Independent
