The Public Service Data Strategy sets out a vision for data, its use, its re-use and its management within the Public Service. It includes a set of guiding principles to assist PSBs in aligning with the vision. It also details a series of strategic themes and supporting actions that will build incrementally to a target state data ecosystem.
The 31 actions spread across 13 different data themes:
Protection and Legislation
- complete the Data Sharing and Governance Act
- data Sharing Framework to support PSBs
- ensure processing of personal data in line with data protection
Governance and Standards
- establish Data Governance Board
- define standards and guidelines in line with GDPR Article 40
Privacy and Security
- publish privacy-by-design and security guidelines
- PSBs to employ security and privacy measures
- protect personal data online using MyGovID
- implement a secure cross-agency Digital Postbox solution
Digital Collection
- adopt digital data collection
- develop a secure platform for online surveys
- establish a UI/UX procurement framework
- develop a platform for online self-service forms
Interoperability Platform
- develop a Data Interoperability Platform
Analytics
- develop an analytics platform supporting secure virtual data rooms
- adopt analytics and visualisation tools
Discovery
- develop a Government data catalogue
- develop a Government API portal
Trusted Identifiers
- promote roll-out and adoption of the PSC, MyGovID and Eircode
- progress the UBI initiative
Base Registries
- develop base registries
Transparency
- develop a Personal Data Portal for citizens
- publish data sharing agreements
- catalogue and release open datasets
Capability
- define a self-assessment maturity framework
- define a data strategy template for PSBs
- PSBs to appoint an officer with responsibility for data
Geospatial
- encourage PSBs to catalogue and share geospatial datasets
- develop the State’s proposal data hub (GeoHive)
- define Geospatial data governance structures
Records Management
- implement Public Service Records Management plan
This vision and set of actions acts as our “North Star” – a goal to start moving towards incrementally. Although covering four years, this strategy sets out some long-term actions which will take well beyond the lifetime of this strategy to fully realise. However, it starts us on a pathway, where we can begin to deliver the changes required.
In October 2017 Ireland signed up to the once-only principle. The once-only principle outlines that public bodies should collect data once, and only once from citizens and businesses, and reuse that data as opposed to recollecting it.
By re-using data in this manner, and implementing the actions in the strategy, we aim to deliver:
- more joined-up and integrated public services
- more streamlined and efficient public services
- a reduction in citizens providing the same data over and over again
- better protection of personal data
- improving the process of policy formulation and evaluation
- increased data awareness and transparency
