National Data Infrastructure Champions Group

National Data Infrastructure Champions Group

Background

Chairperson: Paul Morrin, Assistant Director General, Central Statistics Office

Secretary: Caroline Barrett, Assistant Principal, Central Statistics Office

The National Data Infrastructure (NDI) Champions Group, chaired by the CSO with representatives from all Departments and agencies with high-value data, monitors and promotes coverage of the unique identifiers across public sector data holdings. This group has the ambition of identifying gaps in the coverage of unique identifiers while also promoting the value of the NDI in meeting known and emerging data needs in the public service. 

Role of the Group

The primary functions/roles of this group are as follows:

• To develop and maintain a NDI Dashboard which includes key data holdings in Public Sector Bodies and the level of coverage of unique identifiers^[1] across these data holdings;
• To monitor progress towards implementation of these unique identifiers and report to the CSMB, PSMG and PSLB on a regular basis;
• To promote an active system-wide engagement on issues relating to data sharing and analysis, based on the Data Sharing and Governance Act;
• To identify ‘pathfinder projects’ in consultation with the CSO Statistical System Co-ordination Directorate to progress policy issues and provide evidence of value for the NDI in the public service;
• To set up sub-groups to progress topics that are of particular relevance to Public Sector Bodies; sub-groups include the Unique Business Identifier (UBI) and the Eircode sub-group;
• To support the development and implementation of a communications strategy for the NDI; 

Membership of the Group

The Departments and Agencies currently represented at the NDI Champions Group are as follows:

An Garda Síochána

Central Bank of Ireland

Central Statistics Office

Commission for the Regulation of Utilities

CORU (Health and Social Care Professionals Council)

Courts Service

Dental Council

Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine

Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Department of Environment, Climate and Communications

Department of Defence

Department of Education

Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

Department of Social Protection

Department of Foreign Affairs

Department of Health

Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Department of Justice

Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

Department of Rural and Community Development

Department of Transport

Department of Taoiseach

Enterprise Ireland

Environmental Protection Agency

Food Safety Authority of Ireland

Galway County Council

Health Research Board

Health Insurance Authority

Higher Education Authority

Health Products Regulatory Authority

Health Service Executive

Health and Safety Authority

Irish Blood Transfusion Service

Local Government Management Agency

Mayo County Council

Medical Council

Mental Health Commission

Nurses and Midwifery Board of Ireland

Office of Government Procurement

Ordnance Survey Ireland

Office of Public Works

Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland

Probation Service

Public Appointments Service

Residential Tenancies Board

Revenue Commissioners

Road Safety Authority

Safefood

SOLAS- An tSeirbhís Oideachais Leanúnaigh agus Scileanna

Tailte Eireann

Valuation Office 

Operation of the Group

The group meets at least four times a year. These meetings are used for the exchange of relevant information, developments and reporting of considerations on a range of issues relevant to unique identifiers and the NDI. The CSO Statistical System Co-ordination Directorate provides guidance and support to the group to progress the implementation of the NDI.

On demand the chairperson may invite other persons to attend and or speak to the group where the chairperson considers such a contribution may be of benefit to the role of the group.

On demand the chairperson may invite members onto a group or team to work on specific topics or evaluate progress in specific areas where the chairperson considers such a contribution may be of benefit to the role of the group or the further development of the NDI.

[1] PPSN, Eircode and Unique Business Identifier when implemented.