Introduction
Public sector data holds significant potential for enhancing administrative efficiency, transparency, policy development, and statistical accuracy. Despite various reports highlighting these benefits, it was assessed by researchers MacFeely and Dunne that (in 2014) that there was a lack of guidance on organizing the Irish Public Sector information effectively.
MacFeely and Dunne further explored the value of public sector data, and proposed a framework for national data infrastructure in Ireland, discussing the benefits, privacy concerns, and steps for implementation. They noted that ‘seamless’ or ‘joined-up’ government, administrative data in the Irish public sector would only occur if it was organised in a planned and coordinated way.
MacFeely and Dunne also noted that significant improvements could be made with fundamental decisions regarding the implementation of new public administration systems or infrastructure. National data infrastructure could provide a platform to transform the way public administration in Ireland operated, facilitating improved public services and administrative efficiency. It was stressed that architectural design for national data infrastructure needed to have a whole-of-system perspective to bring together the strands so that departmental data systems can engage with each other.
The value of Public Sector data
Public Sector data defined. Administrative or public sector data refers to information collected routinely during the management or supervision of public services. This includes a wide array of data, from tax payments to social welfare claims and educational grants, typically collected at a granular level, making it highly valuable for analysis.
Analytical and policy benefits. Despite the resources spent on maintaining these records, their potential as tools for policy design and implementation is frequently underutilized. Recognizing administrative data as a valuable asset, rather than a burden, can enhance democratic transparency, administrative efficiency, and economic value.
Considering national level data infrastructure
Current challenges. Like many countries, Ireland’s public sector data landscape is fragmented, with uncoordinated datasets across various departments and agencies. This lack of uniformity hampered the effectiveness of statistical analysis and public service efficiency.
Insights from other jurisdictions. The Nordic countries, particularly Norway, transformed their administrative and statistical systems as early as the 1960's based on the principles outlined by Svein Nordbotten. Central to this transformation was the use of unique, permanent identifiers for data sets, enabling effective and efficient public administration.
The structure proposed for Ireland's data infrastructure
Key components To establish national data infrastructure in Ireland, three primary databases were assessed to be essential:
A list of all individuals in the state with unique IDs.
A list of all businesses in the state with unique IDs.
A list of all locations/buildings in the state with unique IDs and location coordinates.
Inter-linkages and coordination. Developing the inter-linkages between these databases is crucial for understanding the interactions between individuals, businesses, and locations. This would involve transforming existing identifiers, like the tax department customer number, into universal identifiers.
Privacy and efficiency trade-offs
Balancing risks and benefits. Implementing a national data infrastructure involves navigating the trade-off between privacy and administrative efficiency. Public trust will be paramount, necessitating robust governance to ensure data protection and appropriate use.
Legislative and organisational considerations. Legislation related to data protection and statistics must guide the development of this infrastructure. Key issues include determining the ownership and maintenance of public sector registers and the conditions under which data linking is permitted.
Steps Toward Implementation
Initiatives. Initiatives such as the Personal Public Service (PPS) Number (a unique reference number that helps you access social welfare benefits, public services and information in Ireland), and the establishment of individual health identifiers, provide natural starting points for developing a national data infrastructure. Additionally, European legislation requiring a ‘point of single contact’ for service providers aligns with these efforts.
Comprehensive Approach. A coordinated, top-down approach is necessary, involving the entire public sector is required. This includes legal, organizational, and governance frameworks to ensure the effective use of public sector data.
Conclusion
Enhanced public service efficiency and policy development hinges on the seamless integration and linking of public sector data. While digital infrastructure and solutions are part of the equation, the underlying data infrastructure is fundamental. For other jurisdictions starting out on this journey, the lessons from Ireland could be helpful in the development of national data infrastructure that balances privacy concerns with the benefits of improved public services and government performance.
References
MacFeely, Steve; Dunne, John (2014). Administration, vol. 61, no. 4 (2014), pp. 93–107 Joining up public service information: The rationale for a national data infrastructure
Nordbotten, S. (2010). The use of administrative data in official statistics – Past, present, and future – With special reference to the Nordic countries. In M. Carlson, H. Nyquist & M. Villani (Eds), Official Statistics – Methodology and applications in honour of Daniel Thorburn (pp. 205–23). Retrieved from officialstatistics.wordpress.com [9 December 2013].
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