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Location: CSO Dublin, Ardee Road, Rathmines, Dublin 6, D06 FX52
Date: 10th June 2024 14:00—17:00
Chair: Deirdre Mahony (CSO).
Secretary: Kevin Hunt (CSO).
CSO: Gerry Brady (CSO), Alan Cahill (CSO), Jacqueline Kirrane (CSO), Sam Belton (CSO), Reamonn McKeever (CSO), Deirdre Moran (CSO), Clare O’Hara (CSO).
Departments: Jean Brennan (D/FIN), Naoise Grisewood (D/TTaS), Niamh Kennedy (D/TTaS), Fintan McGrath (D/TTaS), Laura Devaney (D/Taoiseach), Andrew Moran (D/Taoiseach), Rinku Phulphagar (D/PER).
Agencies/Universities: Lee Carroll (SEAI), Cathal O’Cleirigh (SEAI), George Hussey (CCAC/EPA), Fionn Rogan (UCC), Lisa Ryan (UCD).
Apologies: Patrick Fournet (Met Eireann), Joel Franklin (SEAI), Rob Kelly (CSO), Josh Lernihan (D/PER), Sandy McPhee (D/ECC), Ciara Morgan (D/PER), Brian O'Gallachoir (UCC), Greta Szabo (D/ECC).
D Mahony welcomed the group to the inaugural group meeting and introduced the CSO Directorate for Climate, Environment, Enterprise, and Sustainability (“CEES”). A broad range of data from different sources has been brought together under a climate and environment lens.
The liaison group is intended to bring data users and policy makers into strategic discussion and raise the awareness of data insight potential.
D Mahony asked if there were comments on the circulated terms of reference for the meeting.
The suggestion was made to directly name the specific agencies and departments involved.
No objections raised.
D Mahony invited attendees to introduce themselves and what they would like to get out of the group.
Members of CSO staff introduced themselves and their work areas.
Attendees expressed interest in:
- Learning which datasets are available through the CSO
- Gaining access to relevant datasets of high value to their research
- Awareness and involvement in research activities relevant to climate adaptation
- Ecosystems and Environmental accounts relevant to economic and fiscal modelling
- Data relevant for meeting energy reporting obligations
- Data relevant to research on energy and emissions
- Data relevant to climate action plan indicators and targets
K Hunt presented examples of energy-related large admin microdata datasets available to the CSO, the linkages that can be made between them using identifier keys, and statistical outputs from these.
L Carroll noted that broad access to data is valuable, but specific knowledge is important to ensure accuracy and authority in insights from data.
D Mahony agreed on importance of expert insight in interpreting data.
A Cahill noted the value of expert insight for ecosystems accounts data.
L Ryan spoke on need for energy consumption data for economic modelling and expressed interest in gaining access to relevant datasets for this.
G Brady described plans for a new research microdata file as part of SEAI liaison agreement, which would combine data on energy consumption with building energy ratings and census of population. L Ryan and F Rogan expressed interest in joining discussions on this project.
F Rogan asked generally about timelines following requests for data access and linkages.
D Mahony said that researcher registration can be requested and approved within a couple of months, but answers to questions involving linkages of data will vary widely depend on what work has been done to date within CSO, which will be based in part on user need.
G Brady said that delays can also happen due to legal process of requesting data. Data requests are required to be specific and justified.
L Carroll said that SEAI having access to multiple admin datasets through CSO "airlock" is useful for research and modelling, and asked if consumption data for large energy users like data centres could be obtained in more granular 15 minute increments.
D Mahony said that under the Statistics Act, a justification of need for data is required, and that requests from agencies and departments can help with this.
There was a discussion on the legal ability of universities and research bodies to access confidential data for research purposes. The CSO can provide access under Statistics Act for research purposes through RMFs or AMFs.
G Hussey noted the growing significance of data centres to energy policy, and the need for greater clarity on their energy consumption.
G Hussey also asked if opportunities for data linkages are growing with implementation of National Data Infrastructure+.
D Mahony said that Eircode coverage is improving in admin data sources, and that unique business identifiers (UBIs) are a core part of ongoing data stewardship strategy.
G Brady said that data records with missing Eircodes can be filled in from other sources using address information, but that this is not comprehensive.
F Rogan asked about the potential of linking NCT data to other datasets like Census of Population, from the perspective of transport energy usage.
G Brady said that the CSO has data on drivers and data on vehicles but no way to link them. There is an additional issue with NCTs not being required for first four years of vehicle life, which means an absence of recent data on electric vehicle odometers. A suggestion was made in a previous meeting for Dept of Transport to add an odometer reading requirement to the initial years of vehicle registration to make up for this data gap.
D Mahony noted the growth of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) in transport fuels, and ongoing CSO work in obtaining data on this.
C O’Hara presented on CSO environmental economic accounts data, which can combine data from different environment accounts, and their relevance to decarbonisation targets and transitions.
R Phulphugar said that estimates for fossil fuel subsidies are available from multiple sources, and it is important that they are harmonised. C O’Hara said that D/PER, D/FIN and CSO will meet to discuss this question.
N Grisewood said that Revenue data could improve NACE-level accuracy.
D Mahony said that there is a CSO/Revenue Liaison Group where this can be discussed.
G Hussey commented on past need for data on Vehicle Registration Tax by NACE code which could not be found. D Mahony said that this can be looked at by CSO if there is a specific question. G Hussey can follow up with Transport for details.
G Hussey said that transport sector in general is most challenging for data needs on economic activity. Given current emissions figures, decoupling as concept is less relevant than overall sectoral carbon budgets.
A Moran said that data presented can be of use for informing policy.
L Ryan asked about data on SEAI grants and if they can be linked to NACE codes. CSO plan to access to grant data later in year, which will mainly apply to households.
J Brennan said that where tax-related data is obtained from different sources like D/FIN and Revenue, some coordination or coherence needed.
C O’Cleirigh noted the issue of country of origin in calculating emissions and the need for certainty or authority when responding to pushback. L Carroll said that consistency in carbon and energy accounting between agencies is important to avoid confusion. G Hussey said that Eurostat reporting can’t be changed, but in EPA inventories it is important is to avoid mismatches of totals.
C O’Hara and D Mahony noted relevance of comments to CSO releases and invited more detailed feedback where available.
F Rogan asked about reporting not being done in Ireland on energy use by NACE, with example of UK. C O’Cleirigh noted some concerns of data quality, particularly in transport energy. D Mahony said that CSO Transport are in the CEES Directorate and can attend future meetings.
F Rogan asked about availability of data on R&D funding. D Mahony said that a question on this is being introduced to Enterprise Survey. The topic could be added to agenda of meetings with D/ETE.
N Grisewood said that a separate CSO Transport Statistics Liaison Group exists and has been successful in expanding data conversation. D/TTaS have an annual travel survey and look at issues of alternative transport fuels.
G Brady said that only about 7% of electric vehicle charging data is available from ESBN data, as most would charge at home. Data on vehicle odometer readings from NCT/CVRT could provide more insight on EV trends.
D Mahony asked about recent changes to EV grants. L Carroll said that focus of spending has shifted from vehicles to charging infrastructure, which has an economic effect on vehicle sales, and that this is an example of the awareness needed to draw reliable data insight. Normalisation of sales needs to be done correctly and transparently.
D Mahony asked about the distributional impact of grants and if this can be monitored. L Carroll said that SEAI grant data can be modelled on small area level, and that this is complex and technical. A technical guidance document is forthcoming.
D Mahony opened the floor to ask attendees about areas of interest for future meetings, and any other colleagues to consider inviting.
F McGrath asked about climate adaptation monitoring by sector, and if CSO has a role in just transition/resilience. There is an interest in developing and monitoring new indicators, like Met Eireann climatological indicators.
D Mahony said that CSO is interested in playing part in all aspects of climate mitigation and adaptation.
G Hussey noted recent workshops in climate resilience and mentioned CSO work in sustainable development goals as a useful example. There is an issue with Local Authority Climate Action Plans and how local emissions can be monitored. Indicators on vulnerability as well as resilience would be useful. G Hussey also asked about CCAC having input into Household Energy Survey and Census of Population 2027 questions. The access to services question on Census is relevant as a driver of transport demand.
D Mahony noted idea of indicators for resilience, and suggested a follow-up with Keith McSweeney, head of SDG and Wellbeing in CSO.
L Ryan expressed interest in SEAI grant data for research, with as much detail on socio-economic status and geographical area as available. Linkages between Census and admin microdata could give indicators for fuel and energy poverty. Data on technologies like heat pumps and solar power are also of interest.
D Mahony concluded meeting, and thanked attendees for participating. The format of the current meeting, with presentations on CSO activities and discussions among attendees, will continue. The next meeting will be scheduled for the second half of the year.
- CSO Climate and Energy Admin Data
- CSO Environmental Accounts