The Humanist Association of Ireland is asking people to think before they tick a religion box on Census night.

On Sunday, the Census will ask everyone in Ireland what religion they are, with “no religion” one of the options available.

The Census is used in part to plan for the future, including the number and types schools of schools that are needed.

Spokesman for the Humanist Association, Brian Whiteside says the religious question is important, because more and more families are finding it difficult to get their children into school.

“There is what is now known as the baptism barrier, if you don’t have your child baptised in the church the school may discriminate against you. It’s important that we know what our people are.

“If, as we suspect, an awful lot more people are not religious – that might encourage the Government to make the changes towards a more secular approach to education,” said Whiteside.

Read everything you need to know about the Census HERE.