Building on the National Data Development Stages and the National Data Gateways, this strategy provides a framework for how data will be managed, shared, and used to deliver better outcomes for society. It recognises data as a national resource to be harnessed responsibly, securely, and innovatively, in collaboration with stakeholders across the system. Centred on the five strategic pillars, the strategy guides a set of targeted initiatives that translate ambition into action, strengthening governance, enabling access, building skills, and driving innovation to ensure Ireland’s data ecosystem continues to evolve and deliver value.
Key strategic actions to deliver this strategy are summarised by strategy pillar below:
| Strategy Pillar | Key Actions |
|---|---|
| Customer -focussed Insight |
National Data Gateways - Establish a coordinated framework with domain-specific gateways that provide governed, secure access to high-value datasets across government and sectors, ensuring data is integrated, trusted, and actionable for national decision-making. Supporting Data Services - Deliver comprehensive data services, methodological guidance, and analytical tools that enable public sector organisations to access, integrate, and use data efficiently and effectively, building capability across the system. Domain-Specific Products - Implement targeted initiatives in priority areas (e.g., Housing, Health, Children) where integrated data is actively used by subject matter experts to drive evidence-based decisions, inform policy, and deliver measurable societal outcomes. Secondary Data First Principle - collect new primary data only after fully assessing and exhausting all relevant secondary sources. |
| Trusted Data |
Trust & Ethics Framework – Establish and extend trust structures and ethical principles, demonstrating responsible data practices through transparent, real-world use cases across the public service. Data Governance – Strengthen governance frameworks, refine data management processes, and ensure compliance with existing regulatory and organisational policies. This includes the development and updating of the CSO policies in the areas of AI use, Administrative Data, Data Management, Researcher Access, and Virtual Data Rooms, to maintain consistency, security, and trust across all data activities Process Transparency – Publish clear, accessible information on methodologies, technologies, metadata, and data quality measures to enable users to understand, replicate, and trust public sector data. Data Management Lifecycle – Implement policies for archiving, curating, and deleting data, safeguarding information throughout its entire life cycle. Trusted Data Access Supports – Provide controlled access mechanisms that balance openness with protection of sensitive data. |
| Enpowering People |
NDAN (National Data and Analytics Network) – Develop cross-sectoral collaboration, innovation, and data use through the NDAN network. Communications Strategy – Create a strategy to support the data strategy, including use cases and guidelines on stakeholder engagement. Data Literacy & Awareness – Contribute to a skills framework to help non-technical public sector staff understand and work with data, which will drive broader data leadership. Skills Centre of Excellence – Establish a hub to provide training, best practice, and knowledge exchange across the national data system. Communities of Practice (CoPs) – Expand collaborative groups to share knowledge, address technical challenges, and develop emerging skills. National Statistical Service – Leverage the NSS as a strategic enabler by continuing the secondment of CSO technical staff to build skills, share expertise, and foster collaboration, advancing the NDI and strengthening system-wide data capability. |
| Connected National Data |
Virtual Data Rooms – Provide secure, governed digital spaces for collaborative analysis of sensitive or restricted data. CSO Data Service Coordinators - Deploy dedicated coordinators to connect expertise, establish consistency across the system, and strengthen the CSO’s leadership and coordination role in national data initiatives. Metadata Catalogue - Catalogue key CSO datasets to enhance discoverability, transparency, and reuse, supporting VDRs. Data and Metadata Standards - Promote consistent standards and FAIR principles to improve interoperability and comparability. Hosted Open Data - Enable public sector organisations to publish data via CSO’s PxStat, fostering transparency, innovation, and engagement. Data Quality - Establish and support standards, tools, and guidance to ensure accurate, reliable, and high-quality data across the National Statistical System. |
| Innovation for Impact |
Data Innovation - Encourage experimentation with new methods, tools, and pilots to demonstrate data’s potential in addressing real-world challenges. Data Engineering – Establish a new CSO Data Engineering division to support data integration and VDR’s. Privately Held Data –Develop a framework for the responsible access and utilisation of privately-held data sources to generate valuable social and economic insights. Utilise established practices and adhere to EU guidelines to effectively accomplish this objective. New Technologies – Leverage AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics to generate deeper insights, enhance services, and identify opportunities for public good. CSO Data Model – Review and update the data model to reflect new data sources, technologies, and analytical approaches. |