A Census of Population was taken on the night of Sunday, 5 April 1981, in accordance with the Statistics (Census of Population) Order 1981 (S.I. No. 60 of 1981). Census data is collected every 5 years. The Small Area Population Statistics (SAPS) datasets break the national Census data down by various geographic levels - (i) the District Electoral Divisions and Urban or Rural Districts of each County., (ii) the Wards of the County Boroughs of Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Waterford. (iii) Towns with legally defined boundaries. (iv) Towns 1,000 population and over (including suburbs or environs, if any). (v) The total suburbs or environs, if any, of each city or town. (vi) Where a town, 1,000 population and over, is situated in more than one county a separate file is available for the part in each county. (vii) Where a town or the suburbs or environs of a city or town stands on more than one District Electoral Division, a separate file is available for that part of the town etc. in each of the District Electoral Divisions in question together with a printout for the remainder of the District Electoral Division. (viii) Counties, County or Municipal Boroughs. (ix) Planning Regions. (x) Health Board Areas. (xi) District Electoral Divisions or parts thereof designated as Gaeltacht Areas. (xii) The Gaeltacht Area of each County. (xiii) The total Gaeltacht Area of the Country

Total universe/Complete enumeration

Self-administered questionnaire: Paper