7 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach when he expects the results of the 1991 Census of Population to be published in preliminary form; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The Central Statistics Office has to date published three preliminary reports on the 1991 Census of Population which was held on 21 April last.

The first preliminary report was published on 21 June 1991 — two months after Census day. This gave the population broken down by county and sex. The second report which was published on 26 July presented a disaggregation of these figures for over 200 urban and rural districts.

The third and final preliminary report which was issued on Friday, 22 November 1991, contained a breakdown of the population by broad age group and sex at county, urban and rural district level.

I would like to take this opportunity to compliment the staff of the Central Statistics Office for the speedy publication of the results of the Census — particularly the age group details which are available about one year in advance of the publication schedule for previous Censuses.

I thank the Minister of State for his reply and join with him in his congratulations to the Central Statistics Office on their efficiency. As I and every other Member in this House will have a passing interest in this question may I ask when the district electoral divisions data will be available so as to enable the new boundary commission to be established?

The information that will be required by the Constituency Boundary Commission will be available probably by the summer of 1992 — 18 months time.

Considering the speed at which the Central Statistics Office could churn out such detail as to the age and sex of every voter, how is it that it will take another nine months to find out where they are living for the purpose of drawing up new boundaries for Dáil purposes?

It is very complicated.

That will have to be pursued at another time.

That is high on the list of priorities.

I am now proceeding to questions nominated for priority. Here may I say ad nauseam there is a strict time limit for questions nominated for priority, 15 minutes only.