by Linda McGrory
PEOPLE living in Inishowen who use addresses in the
North face the dilemma of filling in Census forms in
both jurisdictions.
Census 2011 in the Republic is currently clashing
with Census 2011 in the North. This means anyone
using a false address in either jurisdiction,
including welfare cheats, may receive Census forms
in both.
The 2011 Census, north and south, throws the
cross-border practise of 'grannying' into sharp
focus.
'Grannying' is where people who left the North to
live across the border, use their former addresses,
or in some cases grandparents’ addresses, to get
their children into favoured schools and to continue
availing of free NHS healthcare.
One former Co Donegal enumerator said she did not
apply for the job this year after experiencing
aggression on the doorsteps last time from some
householders who did not want to complete the form.
"Some people didn't want to take the forms from me.
Then you would hear the usual excuse, 'we're not
always here'," she said, asking for anonymity.
"When it came to collecting the forms, you would
have to call back a half-dozen times to some houses.
Some people said they lost the form or they posted
it off themselves. But they would have to get a
special envelope from me to post it themselves.
"Some of them got a bit nasty and told me they would
report me to my supervisor, even though I was only
doing my job."
The next census in Northern Ireland takes place on
Sunday, March 27, 2011 while it takes place in the
Republic on Sunday, April 10, 2011.
CSO Census liaison officer for the west and north
west, Pat Pentony, said the message to householders
was 'clear'.
"If someone is a resident of the Republic of
Ireland, it's up to them to take the form and fill
it up on April 10. That is their obligation, that is
their civic duty. It is not complicated,” said Mr
Pentony.
"We will bend over backwards to facilitate people to
take the form and fill it up. The enumerator has
signed the Statistics Act and everything is
confidential."
Some 5,000 enumerators, who will earn an average of
€2,200 over the term of the contract, are currently
distributing Census 2011 forms to 1.8 million
households across the State.
Failure to complete the form by anyone present in
the State on Census night can result in prosecution
and a maximum fine of €25,000. |
