Census objecters to be prosecuted

THE State is to prosecute householders who refused to co-operate with this year’s census of population.

About 20 people declined to provide information to the census enumerators in an act of defiance that could cost them a fine of up to €25,000.

Their details have been passed on to the Chief State Solicitor’s office to prepare a prosecution. Government chief whip Tom Kitt told the Dáil these were people who “went out of their way to avoid enumeration” or point-blank refused to be counted.