Improvement Actions Ireland

Recommendation 9

Building on the progress in creating a National Data Infrastructure, the Central Statistics Office should move as soon as possible towards a population census based on administrative data, though likely supplemented by surveys in areas not covered by administrative data. (Improvement-related: ES CoP, Indicators 9.4, 9.5, 9.6 and 10.3).

Current situation:

Currently population statistics in Ireland are produced through the “traditional” Census of Population and the Annual Population and Migration Estimates. The primary source of data collection is the Census of Population which is generally carried out every 5 years. In between censuses, Annual Population and Migration Estimates are calculated by trending forward the previous Census of Population using births and deaths data from administrative records and migration estimates from the CSO Labour Force Survey.

The most recent Census undertaken in April 2022 used a traditional model of hand delivery and collection of a paper-based questionnaire by a large team of enumerators. Although the traditional approach was mainly deployed, administrative data sources were integrated into generation of both unit and item values.

The CSO is currently taking a dual approach to modernising the compilation of census type data, centred around both the Traditional Approach and an Administrative Census: 

Traditional Approach

It is intended to introduce an online response option for the next Census of Population in 2027. The CSO is continuing to develop the systems to produce annual national population estimates using existing administrative data sources, with the support of the custodians of the relevant data holdings. 

Administrative Census

• In Ireland there are no formal administrative registers. There is no Population Register or indeed no Dwellings Register. However, in December 2021, the CSO published Irish Population Estimates from Administrative Data Sources (IPEADS) using data collected from administrative records only. IPEADS currently produces individual statistics only. This frontier output contained experimental population data for April 2020 dis-aggregated to levels of geographical granularity not previously available for annual population estimates. The estimates were compiled by linking administrative data sets from a range of public service bodies. A series of rules were then applied to decide who should be included in or excluded from the population. IPEADS has just completed its third iteration, with IPEADS 2022 published In June 2024. The IPEADS  approach is still experimental and there are aspects of using administrative sources for counting the population that will require further development. These include the relatively limited range of attribute variables available from administrative sources when compared with the Census of Population (where attribute information on topics such as commuting patterns, use of the Irish language, religion, etc is collected) and the production of statistics in small geographical areas. The CSO access to some outstanding public sector data flows will help with both issues, with the possibility of producing household statistics, as will the increased level of Eircodes being collected in the public sector with the move to online public administration of services.

Improvement sub-action 9.1:

Further develop the compilation of annual population estimates from administrative data sources through improving the quality of administrative sources in partnership with Public Sector Bodies. The key metrics in assessing these data improvements for the population count are the percentage of records with Eircodes, (currently estimated in the region of 60%) and the percentage of records coming from ‘real time’ sources (approximately 70%), where the activity recorded is from a recent time period. 

Deadline:

Q4 2027.

Responsible institution for improvement sub action 9.1:

Central Statistics Office.

Improvement sub-action 9.2:

Further develop the compilation of annual population estimates from administrative data sources through the publication of an annual series of such estimates produced solely from administrative data sources. These have already been compiled for reference years 2020-2022 and published as frontier estimates. It is planned to continue this series and enhance the quality of the estimates as administrative data sources and methodologies improve.

The CSO will continue to use administrative data to address non-response in any future census as well as increasing the use of administrative data to replace questions that were previously asked directly of respondents.

The CSO will continue to engage with stakeholders in the years ahead to decide the best census model to deliver Irish requirements into the future. The CSO will launch a public consultation on the future of census taking and present a range of options taking into account national and international requirements.

Deadline:

Q4 2027.

Responsible institution for improvement sub action 9.2:

Central Statistics Office. 

Recommendation 10

The Central Statistics Office should clarify the principles for pricing the increasing range of services provided to producers of official statistics, holders of administrative data and other public sector bodies. (Improvement-related: ES CoP, Indicator 10.4).

Current situation:

While CSO provides a range of services that could generate a market value under ‘data stewardship’, a consistent pricing policy for products still needs to be developed in line with the following principles

• Recognising that Official Statistics are a “Public Good
• Equality of access
• Willingness/ability to pay – for example, if the CSO charges for RMF access, only funded researchers will have the ability to pay for the service and ‘pure’ researchers will be disadvantaged
• Taking account of European legislative changes
• Taking account of the demands on CSO from an ‘expectation of service’

Improvement action 10:

Develop a Pricing Policy. The CSO will develop a pricing policy for its services containing a description on which services continue to be free, a cost recovery model for large surveys, other recovery arrangements, etc. The policy will be made public. The Organisational Capability Review proposes that CSO develops a more formal approach to prioritisation and cost recovery.

Deadline:

Q4 2025.

Responsible institution for improvement action 10:

Central Statistics Office.