The 2021 Census will have eight new questions for people to answer, the Central Statistics Office have confirmed.

The additions to the Census were approved by the Government.

They were added after a consultation process between the CSO and stakeholders including members of the public, interest groups, Government departments, local authorities and other public bodies, as well as the research and academic communities. The consultation took place between October and November 2017

As well as the extra questions, the 2021 census form will also include a time capsule giving people the opportunity to write a confidential message which will be securely stored for 100 years.

The eight new questions will concern:

Renewable energy sources

Internet access and devices

Smoke alarms

Smoking

Working from home

Volunteering

Childcare

Travelling home from work, school or college

Not completing the Census form is an offence, according to the Statistics Act 1993, the CSO confirmed.

It is also an offence to willfully destroy, damage or falsify any document issued for the collection of such statistics and to knowingly provide false information on a form, a spokesperson stated.

Anyone convicted of not filling out the Census faces a fine of up to €44,440.

The 2016 Census put the population of Ireland at 4,761,865 - a 3.6% increase on 2011.

- This article was updated at 4.36pm