Intrusive census should only be a head count

THE census has become nothing other than a highly invasive and unwarranted probe into people’s lives with a high nuisance factor.

The original idea of a census in Roman times was a basic head count and nothing else, and not what we see today which is an Orwellian type data collecting exercise on the personal affairs of each person in a household.

The census form is nothing other than a CV, which has been increasing dramatically in size over time.

There are a whopping 34 questions for each person involving detailed financial questions about how much a person pays in rent, whether they have mortgages or loans; the type of education they have and exact qualification; number of rooms in a person’s dwelling; modes of transport and medical information.

Not alone does the form have to be filled out, but before it is taken back, a cross-examination takes place on the doorstep on the answers supplied.

The census is nothing other than a outrageous communist-style investigation into people’s lives complete with bar codes, and should be kept to a head count only and not inquest of a person’s affairs.

Maurice Fitzgerald

Shanbally

Co Cork