Launch of the Public Service Data Catalogue

2 March 2021

Minister McGrath and Minister of State Smyth launch the Public Service Data Catalogue

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath TD, and Minister of State for the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, with responsibility for Public Procurement and eGovernment, Ossian Smyth TD, welcomed the launch of the Public Service Data Catalogue, which will provide citizens greater transparency around the data held by the public service.

The Public Service Data Catalogue facilitates transparency around public service data, by providing information on over 1,100 key datasets across almost 100 public bodies.

Datasets catalogued include personal data, business data, and data critical to business decisions or service delivery. The Catalogue provides citizens with simple plain English descriptive information about datasets including their purpose, their coverage and whether they include any personal or sensitive personal data.

The Public Service Data Catalogue will provide citizens with a greater understanding of the data held by the public service – it is among a series of measures that Government are introducing through the Public Service Data Strategy that aim to provide a more joined-up, efficient and transparent public service.

Minister McGrath said:

“I am delighted to launch the Public Service Data Catalogue. The Catalogue is a key step in providing more data awareness and data transparency with the public. It will show people – what data their public service holds, why they hold that data and how it is used.The Catalogue contains a wide range of datasets from across the public service, all in one place. It demonstrates the benefits of joined-up Government, where public bodies work together to deliver a single unified service."

Minister of State, Ossian Smyth TD added:

"Data plays a pivotal role in Government - it drives informed decision-making, shapes public policy and is central to the delivery of public services. The Public Service Data Catalogue is part of a wider programme of actions and initiatives in the Public Service Data Strategy that aim to make Ireland an exemplar in how it manages data. The full programme of actions are set out in the Public Service Data Strategy 2019 – 2023."