I propose to take Questions Nos. 335, 336, 337, 338, 339, 340, 341 and 342 together.
Ireland continues to demonstrate leadership in Open Data, as reflected in the latest EU Open Data Maturity Assessment where Ireland was placed in the top 5 performers in 2024, out of 34 countries. Ireland is in the EU’s ‘trendsetter’ category for open data policy, portal functionality, data quality, and impact. This category designation was made on the basis that Ireland has an advanced open data policy in place, with substantial coordination of open data activities at all levels of government. The national portal provides a wide range of features and caters to the needs of advanced users and publishers.
The Open Data Strategy 2023 – 2027 lays out the national vision and direction for Public Service Bodies (PSBs) – for publishers and users, and the further development of the national open data portal. The implementation of the strategy supports the achievement of Ireland’s obligations under the Open Data and Public Sector Information Directive, including the publication and reuse of specific High-Value Datasets. The Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation provides central supports for PSBs to enable them to achieve their objectives and obligations with regard to Open Data, including:
• Data.gov.ie, the national Open Data Portal.
• Open Data Technical Guidelines and access to the Open Data Technical Services procurement framework.
• Training supports through the Provision of National Training Services for the Irish Government Open Data Initiative procurement framework.
• A community of practice and regular communications, including networks of Open Data Liaison Officers and the Open Data Advisory Group which provide a cross-sectoral forum for guidance, collaboration, and monitoring of open data objectives.
Examples of recent achievements in Open Data include:
• The publication of 21,344 datasets by 140 public service bodies on data.gov.ie.
• Recent improvements to the data.gov.ie portal including the development of dashboard functionality in the Open Data Portal for visualising public sector data.
• SMEs and researchers leveraging datasets for AI model training, urban mobility analysis, and public service optimisation.
• Local authorities using open data to improve planning transparency and citizen engagement.
• Further information is available on the portal data.gov.ie.
The Open Data Directive requires PSBs to make non-personal data openly available for reuse, in machine-readable formats, free of charge, and accessible via APIs where possible. The EU High Value Dataset Implementing Regulation defines specific high value datasets (HVDs) and sets mandatory rules on how member states, including Ireland must publish and make them reuseable. It defines six thematic categories of public sector data that are deemed to have the highest potential reuse: Geospatial, Earth Observation and Environment, Meteorological, Statistics, Companies and Company Ownership, and Mobility.
• Irish Public Services Bodies are now working towards compliance with the Directive and Implementing Act.
• Early successes include the Companies Registration Office (CRO), which launched an innovative Open Data Portal, sharing national company registration data and company financial statements in compliance with the Open Data Directive and exemplifying best practice in open licensing, machine-readable formats, and API access to support bulk downloads and metadata alignment.
• The Department of Culture Communications and Sport is bringing Eircodes into alignment with Open Data requirements which will deliver benefits across the public sector and SME’s, and enable the public to make better-informed decisions and to contribute to policy making
• The CSO publishes statistical HVDs in machine-readable formats with open licenses.
Ireland is meeting its reporting requirements to the EU under the Directive and Implementing Act by ensuring that, while not yet complete, designated HVDs in thematic areas are made available on data.gov.ie in machine-readable formats with open licensing and API access, as far as possible, and by submitting structured updates to the European Commission as requested.
With regard to procurement and contracting data, I recognise the significant public value of this data in promoting transparency, accountability, and innovation across the public sector. My Department has made available on the Open Data Portal, a comprehensive dataset of public procurement information from eTenders.gov.ie. It covers a wide range of sectors and contracting authorities, offering insights into government tendering, transparency, and market opportunities. The Office of Government Procurement has responsibility to update this dataset quarterly and to make sure it adheres to open data standards.
Ireland’s Open Data efforts are aligned with and supportive of a range of policy areas. The Open Data agenda directly support the implementation of Better Public Services, which provides the direction for strategic reform in the Public Service with a vision for inclusive, high quality and integrated Public Service provision that meets the needs and improves the lives of the people of Ireland. Open Data enables data-driven innovation, transparency, and more responsive, efficient public service delivery. It also aligns with the objectives of Harnessing Digital: the digital Ireland framework by underpinning digital public services, data governance, and digital economy growth, and AI – Here for Good: Ireland’s National AI Strategy. Regarding the forthcoming Digital Public Services Plan, open data is well aligned although not explicitly the focus of this strategy, the next Public Service Data Strategy is expected to include a focus on Open Data.
Ireland’s strong performance in the EU Open Data Maturity Assessment positions us well, and supports ongoing international engagement, including with the European Commission, other EU Members States and with the OECD.
