Caution – Census data being used: Exploring and understanding errors and falsification in the irish census

The importance of the Census of Population to those working in geography and related areas such as public health, sociology and economics should not be underestimated. However, unlike many other countries, in Ireland census data and the census process have not been the subject of routine critical scrutiny. This paper outlines potential difficulties in the census process that have been identified in Ireland and abroad before examining the issue of falsification in census returns. An opportunistic sample of 140 undergraduate students was invited to comment anonymously on the accuracy of their responses in the last census. Although five declined and 21 reported that they had not taken part in completing the census, 50 out of the remaining 114 respondents indicated that they had told an ‘untruth’. Thematic analysis of the results identified five relatively distinct themes pertaining to ‘inaccuracies’ in census responses. These were: resistance; status enhancement; minimal engagement strategies; welfare/tax concerns; and religion. Further investigation is suggested, as is the introduction of a Post-Enumeration Survey (PES).