The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has issued a call for 5,000 people to work as enumerators for the 2011 census.
Successful applicants for the positions will be handed a short-term contract and are expected to deliver census forms to some 400 homes in their area, collect them on completion and compile a population report on their assigned area.
"The enumerator must carry out a visual survey of their area and verify the location of all the dwellings listed in their record book; they must also locate and mark on the map any dwellings not already listed," the CSO said.
The application process opens on January 4th and closes on January 11th. It is limited to 15,000 people and regional quotas will apply, the CSO said. A pre-registration service is available on the census website.
Those selected to fill the positions will need to be available between March 8th and May 13th and will have to work a minimum of 22 hours per week, most of which will be on evenings and weekends.
Training will be provided to those who make it through the selection process and enumerators will be paid an average of €2,200. Materials required for the job, such as a mobile phone and calling cards, will be provided.
However, candidates must have secure storage for census documents and applicants living in rural areas must have a full driving licence and access to a vehicle.
"Given the extensive contact that they have with the public, it is important that enumerators have patience, tact and consideration," Deirdre Cullen of the CSO said.
"They must also be able to read maps and understand detailed instructions. It can be helpful if they have some survey, market research or practical social work experience, but this is not essential," she said.
Further information about the positions and application process is available from www.census.ie
