Clearly, it is important if there is to be a complete set of figures that everybody fills in the census of population form. If people did not fill in the form, there will have to be a review as to why they did not do so. There was much advertising at the time on the need for people to fill in the form in order that services could be planned based on an actual population. Where is the evidence that the census figures are used for that purpose? For example, in the areas of health care, education and transport planning in my constituency, there is no evidence that the census of population is used. A reasonable complaint could be made to the Advertising Standards Authority on that basis.

I have no doubt the CSO does a good job in compiling the figures. How is it that the census figures of 2002 could not predict the need for schools in my area or in other areas where there is a rapid population growth? Perhaps the Minister of State will say how census figures will be used as I do not see the evidence. I encouraged people to fill in their forms, but I do not see that it has made a difference in that, as stated in the advertisements, services would be planned for people on the basis of where they live.

We are getting into broader issues. I would be aware, as would anybody else who was campaigning in the Deputy's by-election, of the massive growth in population in north Kildare. We all accept that it is crucial work in regard to forward planning. There are questions in regard to disability on which we will seek detailed information to enable us plan for the tremendous investment that my colleague, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, and others have made in that area. Our job is to make the investment.

On planning, we get the maximum amount of statistics and figures to help whoever is in Government at local and national level to do the job properly. From my experience, there is a massive increase in population in Kildare as well as many foreign workers. That is evident in the Deputy's constituency as well as in mine. One cannot always plan for that in a detailed way. Planning is an ongoing process. I accept there are pressures on schools, but it is up to Governments to move on and to try to provide those facilities. Whether in Kildare or south Dublin we have to plan for motorways, roads, infrastructure, hospitals and schools. The massive growth in population and the arrival of immigrants are symptoms of a successful economy. Sometimes there are elements of success for which we cannot provide instant solutions. That is what is happening as far as I am concerned. They are qualities in an economy we would all welcome in any given day. When we compare ourselves to other economies throughout the EU, we are the envy of many. While the figures can only do so much, they are crucial for forward planning.

On the issue of why people do not return census of population forms, perhaps the Minister of State would give consideration to the fact that people do not think it worthwhile to return them. On the basis of the census, the National Development Plan 2000-2006 was drawn up, on which there is an underspend of €3.7 billion. This includes an underspend of €500 million on our roads. When people filled in their census of population form, they would have expected by the time of the second census that the roads, infrastructure and broadband would be in place and that they would have everything they need to make our area competitive in order that people could continue to live there, including their families. We are into the second census of population where there is now——

I ask the Deputy to confine himself to a question.

Since the census has shown a growth of population in my area, including immigrants, as mentioned by the Minister of State, what hope have they got and what hope have we got given that the National Development Plan 2000-2006 is coming to an end at the end of next month?

The Deputy's question is more appropriate for another Minister. This question deals purely with the census.

Can people have any more hope when they return the census of population form that the information gleaned from it will make a difference, given that it has not made a difference so far in view of the underspend of €3.65 billion under the national development plan?

Part and parcel of the publicity campaign is to underline the importance of this work. As I said earlier, most people agree that it is important work for whichever Government is in place. The Deputy represents a part of the country where it is crucial to have proper census figures for future planning, whether for the western corridor or wherever, and Transport 21 bears that out. The Government is conscious of the need for transport infrastructure in particular. There is an onus on all of us as public representatives to support this process because it is in the interests of the ordinary citizen.