About the Central Survey Unit

About Us

Central Survey Unit is a non-profit making survey organisation within the Northern Ireland public sector. It has a wealth of experience in measuring attitudes and behaviour on a wide range of social policy issues. It offers expertise in the full range of social survey research including questionnaire design, survey methodology, data handling, database creation, analysis and reporting of findings. CSU manages the fieldwork on a number of regular national surveys, such as the Labour Force Survey and the The Northern Ireland Safe Community Survey.

CSU conducts Northern Ireland specific surveys including the Continuous Household Survey and the Northern Ireland Travel Survey on behalf of Government Departments.

The Unit conducts large scale public commissioned surveys. Recent examples include the Programme for International Student Assessment and the NI Disability Survey.

Update on NISRA Household Surveys

Update on how NISRA conduct household surveys and the important role you can play. Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, NISRA is currently carrying out their household surveys by telephone, instead of face-to-face in peoples’ homes. Now more than ever, as we strive to assess the economic and societal impact that COVID-19 has had and will have on NI, we really need your help so that we can measure this impact accurately. If you receive a letter to take part in one of the surveys listed below, please follow the instructions on the letter so that we can make arrangements to conduct the survey with you by telephone. You can either call us on the number provided in the letter or visit the following page to arrange a convenient time for a NISRA Survey Interviewer to call you back to conduct the survey:

Provide contact details to participate in a survey

Current NISRA Households Surveys

• Continuous Household Survey
• COVID-19 Opinion Survey
• Family Resources Survey
• Labour Force Survey
• The Northern Ireland Living Costs and Food Survey
• Survey on Living Conditions
• Travel Survey for Northern Ireland
• Northern Ireland Health Survey
• Safe Community Survey

If you have any queries regarding any of the surveys, please get in touch – email csu@nisra.gov.uk or info@nisra.gov.uk

NISRA would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has participated in any of our surveys.

Recruitment

We are not currently recruiting Survey Interviewers, however we regularly do.

For further information or to have your contact details added to the expressions of interest list, please visit our Survey Interviewers page.

A video describing the work of survey interviewers can be viewed below:

Central Survey Unit purpose leaflet

A copy of the Central Survey Unit (CSU) leaflet along with a large print version is available on the CSU Documents page.

The Leaflet explains:  Who we are, what we do, why we need your help, why you were selected, and what happens with the information you provide.

Surveys

Information on the active surveys is available from the Household surveys page.

General enquiries

Telephone: 02890 255118
Email:  csu@nisra.gov.uk

Head of Central Survey Unit: Dr Kevin Sweeney (email: kevin.sweeney@nisra.gov.uk)
Principal Statistician: Brendan Morgan (email: brendan.morgan@nisra.gov.uk)

Location

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