Offaly is one of six counties where people are being asked to take part.
People living in Offaly are being asked to help prepare for the first ever online census.
The CSO is inviting those in parts of Ferbane, Tullamore and Kilcormac to take part in the Census Pilot Survey, which is being launched in five other counties, Mayo, Louth, Dublin, Kilkenny and Cork.
The Census Pilot Survey is taking place in 44 locations across six counties.
It's part of preparation for the next Census in 2027 - that'll be the first time we'll have the option of filling in the Census form online.
The CSO is also testing a number of new questions, like where a household's car or cars are parked overnight, to help decide on potential placement of electric chargers - if your gender is the same or different to your sex recorded at birth - sexual orientation - and how you'd self-report your mental health.
The CSO sent letters to households in the chosen areas, giving more information on how to take part.
The official Census Pilot Survey night will be the 22nd of September.
Eileen Murphy, Head of Census Administration, explains why they picked these locations:
She also said: “If you receive our letter of invitation for the Census Pilot Survey, please take part.
We need your help, and we cannot do this without you.
By taking the time to complete the Survey, you will give us essential feedback on your experience of the online form and whether the questions are understood.
Traditionally, the purpose of a pilot census has been to test new and changed questions for the next census.
In the case of this Census Pilot Survey, not only will the Survey help us test new questions, it also has the added importance of testing an online option for the first time in history of the Irish census.”
A report on the Census Pilot Survey will be published in 2025.