merrion street

The preliminary results of the 2011 Census were published today at a press conference in Government Buildings by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

According to the CSO...

The preliminary total for the population enumerated on Census Night 10 April 2011 was 4,581,269 persons, compared with 4,239,848 persons in April 2006, an increase of 341,421 persons since 2006 or 8.1 per cent. This translates into an annual average increase of 68,284, or 1.6 per cent.

Minister of State Paul Kehoe welcomed the preliminary Census figures.

The Minister stated:

The figures released by the CSO today are just the first snapshot of what will in time be a detailed portrait of the Ireland of 2011.

The population figures released today will be a major factor on many issues including the drawing of constituency boundaries for future elections. Minister for the Environment, Community & Local Government Phil Hogan TD will establish a Boundary Commission to carry out this task.

The 2011 Census would not have been possible without the staff of the CSO both those now working on the data and the thousands who helped carry out the census last April. I think today is an ideal opportunity to acknowledge their hard work over the last few months and their dedication to the task that lies ahead.