Open Data
Public Bodies Seminar
11th February 2015
Evelyn O’Connor
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
Seminar
• Minister has outlined the benefits of Open Data (social, economic,
democratic) and what is in it for you (efficiencies, data sharing,
improve quality of data, improve evidence-base)
• Tracey and Rob have outlined many uses of data – publish raw data
and it is surprising what can be done
• Dominic has talked about Fingal’s Open Data journey
• Deirdre has outlined the audit methodology and the audit template
• I will cover progress on the Initiative and next steps
Open Data Initiative – ‘To Do’ list
• National Open Data Portal and Insight’s report launched on 22 July
• Public Bodies meeting 29 July and public meeting 8 September
• 3 main streams we need to progress in tandem:
1. Further develop the portal - Audit datasets and populate it and
link to other existing portals
2. Develop user interest
3. Develop an action-oriented Open Data strategy/plan
• Formed PBWG and monthly meetings held
• Issued RFT – engaged consortium for provision of specific expertise
and technical advice and support – 6 month work programme
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http://data.gov.ie/
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Examples of data on portal
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Census data (population, demographics, employment)
Environmental data from various Govt Departments and agencies
Coverage of continental shelf geology offshore
House completions by housing sector, stats on social and affordable
housing, availability of undeveloped housing zoned serviced land
Fire and emergency services data (fatalities, road traffic accidents,
hazardous substances, ambulance calls etc)
Budgetary and Economic statistics with stats on economy
Report on voted expenditure, numbers of public staff employed etc
Stats on reported incidents of drivers under the influence of
intoxicants
Flood hazard and risk data
Scope for more data!
• Doesn’t yet include LA datasets
• Includes datasets from only some agencies and limited from cultural
institutions or academia
• Doesn’t include:
– Unpublished datasets
– Datasets that are not machine readable
– Datasets where licensed for a fee
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Key areas of Progress
• Governance – PBWG and draft spec for OD Governance Board
• Technical framework – metadata, data formats, standards, licencing,
unique identifiers
• Develop the portal (harvest, improve look and feel)
• Data audits and publication
• Dissemination and Capacity building
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Participated in workshops
Sponsored Apps competition
Seminar 11th Feb
Open Data Workshop 19th Feb
Meeting NI colleagues on Open Data 27th Feb
Growing an Open Data Enterprise Economy 3rd March
Technical Training on Open Data for PBs 10th March
• Cross-border collaboration
‘Open’ Licencing is necessary
• Data is ‘open’ if free to be used for any purpose
• Associating an Open Licence with Open Data is necessary to
ensure the legal grounding for its potential reuse
• An Open License allows data publishers to define the terms under
which the data can be used
• Many datasets in Open Data portals are not only not associated with
an Open License, but are not associated with any license (Levine)
• Metadata should always be published under an Open License, even
if the underlying data is not
• Most commonly used license for Open Data in Ireland today is the
Irish PSI licence but that is not considered truly ‘open’
• Policy paper sets out options and issues – 5 week consultation
Strategy
Draft Outline template
• Vision and objectives
• Context
• Delivering actions under various components
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Governance
Technical framework
Data sources
Portal
Data usage
Data privacy
Role/responsibilities of DPER
Role/responsibilities of public bodies
• Continuous improvement
• Success measures
Key next steps
Strategy – Research - comply with G8 charter, review feedback, review
roadmap, review best practice, populate template and seek
Government approval to publish draft for consultation
Audits – advice/support public bodies in carrying out audits
Portal – continue to develop in line with technical framework
ODGB – establish at appropriate time
Pilot projects
Continue to raise awareness and promote usage - engagement
Your contribution
• Begin audits and publication plans – reap potential benefits of open
data, support your information management and create efficiencies
• Attend Open Data events (workshop, training, next wider PB forum)
• Review the licencing paper and submit any views to
opendata@per.gov.ie by 20th March
• Provide feedback and input to Open Data strategy
• Ensure Open Data is integrated into your own strategies/plans
Any Questions?