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Research Microdata Files (RMFs)
RMFs are unit record files that do not contain direct identifiers but where the risk of disclosure through indirect identification is considered to be significant. RMFs are not statistical products, as our products relate to aggregated statistical analysis, but are research files that are made available to persons authorised to access such files under the Statistics Act, 1993 subject to strict criteria.
Access to RMFs is strictly controlled and can only be granted within the framework of the Statistics Act, 1993 and must be approved by the Director General of the CSO. Any persons accessing such files must be appointed as Officers of Statistics, sign a Declaration of Secrecy and agree to abide by the Standard Agreement which outlines the specific conditions under which the microdata will be made available.
Under the Statistics Act, 1993 the Director General of the CSO may appoint an individual to be an Officer of Statistics for a specified period to perform a particular statistical analysis on microdata collected under the Act. In these circumstances, the researcher is subject to the full rigour and penalties of the Statistics Act, 1993.
Currently, RMFs are the only means through which access can be granted to business microdata. In addition, RMFs have also been prepared to allow access to household based data at a more detailed level than that possible through AMFs.
The following links provide detailed information outlining the:
• Policy on access to RMFs
• RMF Application Procedure
• RMF Application Form (Word 19KB)
• RMF Assessment criteria
• RMF Standard Agreement (specific to each assignment)
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