The CSO collects trustworthy data and insights about our economy for use by communities, enterprises, decision-makers, public services and researchers.
The information we collect in our enterprise surveys is used by economists and researchers to understand the business economy, by policy makers across Government, and by individuals and enterprises who want more information on their sector. Enterprise surveys are not just about economic activity but also provide much needed information on how businesses are doing, how they are meeting new challenges like digitalisation and green transition, and how they contribute to our society.
Every year the CSO issues more than 300,000 survey forms to businesses and enterprises across Ireland.
You may have received a letter or email from the CSO asking your business to take part in a survey. Participation in this survey is compulsory for any enterprise contacted by the CSO. Under Sections 26 and 27 of the Statistics Act 1993, you are obliged by law to complete and return this form by the date specified in the accompanying correspondence. Any person who fails or refuses to provide this information by that date, or who knowingly provides false information, is guilty of a criminal offence and may, following conviction, be subject to a fine of up to €44,440.
It is now quicker and easier to complete our surveys, through our secure online electronic questionnaire platform.
As with all our surveys, any information provided to the CSO is strictly confidential and protected by law. No individual or enterprise can be identifiable from the data we publish.
The CSO gathers, analyses, and publishes independent statistical information about our economy, society, and environment, which we make freely available to everyone via our website.
The information we gather from companies, businesses, and enterprises of various sizes operating all around the country provides valuable insights around topics that may directly affect your operations, such as input costs, import/export patterns, average wages, or employment trends.
The data we gather and publish is of significant value for all businesses. It provides information on business trends in each sector and the wider economy that allows you to make informed decisions based on accurate information. It also aids policymakers and helps inform government decisions that may impact business sectors.
You may have some questions if you have received a letter or email from us about taking part in one of our Enterprise Surveys. Below are some common questions about taking part. Visit our Enterprise Survey FAQ for answers to more frequently asked questions.
Selection for Enterprise Surveys is based on a sampling programme, which includes all business types and sizes from all parts of the country. It is just as important for us to collect this information from small businesses as from the bigger ones. Once selected, you will receive a letter or email from the CSO, which outlines your legal responsibility to complete this mandatory survey within a specified time-frame.
We understand that these surveys can be a burden, particularly for small businesses, and we very much appreciate your time and cooperation. We are always available on the phone or by email to help in any way we can. Survey specific contact details are included in every survey request.
As Ireland’s National Statistics Institute, the CSO’s role is to gather, analyse, and publish a wide range of statistics to meet national, EU, and other international requirements. The information we collect from Enterprise Surveys is used to help your business and policy makers make informed decisions based on accurate data.
Once you have been selected for an Enterprise Survey, you are legally obliged to return the survey. All Enterprise Surveys are underpinned by a Statutory Instrument (S.I.) which means they are mandatory. Details of each S.I. can be found under the relevant survey and the general CSO enforcement strategy is available on our website.
Please refer to the specific survey for details of each survey and the questions you can expect.
All CSO Enterprise Surveys are completed through our Electronic Questionnaire (eQ) platform. The list of questions is accessible from the start page for the survey and can be viewed before you begin the survey.
The information and facts we gather are used by Eurostat (Statistical Office of the European Union), as well as local and national government to make policy decisions and to plan for everyone’s future in Ireland. All of our statistical releases are freely available on our website
Yes. Protecting your confidentiality is at the heart of everything we do. Your confidentiality is guaranteed by law under the Statistics Act, 1993, which means no individual, household, or enterprise can be identified from the data we publish. The information you provide is generalised, so nobody is identifiable from the data you provide and it is only used for statistical purposes. It will not be divulged to any other Government Department or body.
We’d like to thank you for your trust in us.
Because confidentiality is so important to our work, we have developed Trust & Transparency pages on our website to provide further information on the steps we take to protect your data and confidentiality and more.
If you have any questions about an enterprise survey, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Phone: 021-453 5000
Learn more about why and how we gather data, our legal remit, the legal guarantees around data protection and confidentiality, and the high standards we hold ourselves to
Browse our collection of statistics by theme, or explore our hubs, infographics and interactive tools
Learn about our data and confidentiality safeguards, and the steps we take to produce statistics that can be trusted by all.