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Today (09 January 2025) the National Statistics Board (NSB) is pleased to announce the publication of the Mid-Term Review of its 2021-2026 Strategy, Quality Information for All – Numbers Matter, available here.
The review highlights the significant advances made by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) and the Irish Statistical System (ISS) in delivering the NSB’s strategic priorities and actions. Some of the greatest progress has been seen in fostering trust and transparency while expanding statistical insights and improving data standards, skills, and services across the civil and public services through data stewardship. The NSB commends the CSO for its significant achievements in this regard.
Anne Vaughan, Chairperson of the National Statistics Board (NSB), said:
“The National Statistics Board, established under the Statistics Act, 1993, has a vital role in guiding the strategic direction of the CSO and setting priorities for the development of official statistics in Ireland. In our strategy, Quality Information for All – Numbers Matter (2021–2026), we outlined eight priorities and ten key actions to shape this work. I am pleased to introduce a Mid-Term Review of this strategy, which examines the progress made in each of these areas.
The NSB is highly encouraged by the significant progress made by the CSO and the Irish Statistical System in achieving the ambitions of this strategy. The CSO continues as a trusted and independent source of information, producing an ever-expanding range of official statistics. Its agility and depth of insights have been facilitated by the development of the National Data Infrastructure, which remains a cornerstone of its success. Notable innovations, such as the Frontier Series, underscore the CSO’s commitment to delivering relevant, high-quality data.
The NSB is a statutory body, set up under the Statistics Act 1993, to provide strategic guidance to the CSO.
The review assesses progress against the NSB’s 2021-2026 strategy, highlighting achievements, challenges, and opportunities in advancing official statistics in Ireland.
The NDI connects government datasets through standardised identifiers like PPSN, Eircode, and a Unique Business Identifier (UBI), enabling more comprehensive and accurate statistical analysis. For more information see here
Data stewardship is the role of ensuring the ethical and responsible creation, collection, management, use and reuse of data so that they are used for public good and benefit the full community of data users. As the National Statistical Institute (NSI) of Ireland, the CSO is trusted to provide this formal role of coordinating data standards across the civil and public service.
For more information, please see the NSB Mid-term review or visit the NSB website.
| Brian Cahill | (+353) 21 453 5173 |
|---|---|
| nsb@cso.ie |
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Key Achievements:
Data Stewardship and the National Data Infrastructure (NDI)
The CSO has excelled in enhancing the National Data Infrastructure (NDI) and creating a more integrated and standardised approach to public sector data. A key milestone includes the integration of Eircodes across government datasets. These efforts have improved data linkage, facilitated advanced statistical analyses, and fostered collaboration with public bodies through secure data.
Trust and Transparency Centre
In 2024, the launch of the CSO’s Trust and Transparency section on its website marked a pivotal step forward. This new section offers clear explanations about data use, the differences between the CSO and other data providers, the safeguards around protecting confidentiality, and its application of professional ethical considerations in the production of official statistic.
Monitoring Transformations in Irish Society
The CSO has also made substantial strides in reporting transformations in Irish society. Enhanced outputs now include detailed environmental reports, more frequent updates on inflation, and innovative insights into societal well-being.
Challenges and Areas for Improvement include:
Health Statistics
While progress has been made, integrating health data remains a challenge due to fragmented systems across public services. The progression of the Health Information Bill 2024 and the establishment of the CSO’s Health and Social Cohesion division marks promising steps toward improving health data frameworks.
Housing Statistics
Addressing data gaps in housing remains critical. The creation of the CSO’s Housing Division and the launch of the Housing Hub are key advances, enabling enhanced analysis through linked administrative datasets.
Eircode as a Public Good
The NSB strongly supports treating the inclusion of Eircodes across all government datasets as a public good, a move that could enhance public accessibility and align with the EU Open Data Directive. A decision is expected to be made on this by the end of 2026.