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Chapter 1 Introduction

1.11 Present and absent persons

The census counts persons where they are on Census Night. Situations will arise where some or all persons in a household are absent from their home on Census Night.

Who is to be counted as present on Census Night? - list 1

- Include every person who spent Census Night in the dwelling or who arrived the following morning not having been enumerated elsewhere but had been in the country before midnight; even visitors who are only staying temporarily in the household should be included.

- Include all persons alive at midnight on April 24. Experience indicates that babies and very young children are sometimes omitted by the householder so care should be taken to ensure that all persons, regardless of age, are declared on the form.

- Do not include anyone who is temporarily away from home on April 24. They should be declared as absent (see list 2, page 3 of household form) and complete the questions at the back of the form.

- Do not include students who are away from home living in other accommodation on the night of April 24 (see list 2, page 3 of household form).

- Do not include babies born after midnight on Census Night.

Remember only persons who are actually in the country at midnight on Census Night should be enumerated in the census. Anyone who arrives from outside the country after midnight should not be counted as being present.

Who should be counted as absent on Census Night? - list 2

Persons who usually reside in a private household but who are temporarily away from home on Census Night should be entered on list 2, page 3 of the household form by the householder. The householder should also complete the questions relating to absent persons on pages 22-23 of the form in respect of each absent person.

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The following persons or classes of persons should be counted as absent persons:

- Household members who usually live at the address but are away from home on Census Night;

- Household members who usually live at the address but who are out of the country on Census Night;

- Primary, secondary and third level students who are absent on Census Night and are living away from home during term time.

Absent persons only applies to private households. Persons absent from communal establishments on Census Night are not covered as absent persons in the census.

If the entire household is temporarily absent on Census Night, a form E must be completed for the household. The form E procedure ensures that members of the household who spend Census Night elsewhere in Ireland are confirmed as enumerated at the location where they spend the night. See section 4.2.