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The Public Service Data Catalogue aims to promote openness and transparency around the data held by the public service by cataloguing and describing public service data. It is available on datacatalogue.gov.ie.

Derilinx provide a fully managed Data Hub and a suite of Open Data expert services, including an overall programme of portal enhancement and ecosystem management initiatives. datacatalogue.gov.ie is a customised version of the Derilinx datAdore platform that addresses specific requirements linked to the nature of the catalogue. 

In 2023 a new API Catalogue, accessible to logged-in users, was integrated into the existing data infrastructure.

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I’m delighted to launch the Public Service 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.
Michael McGrath, T.D., Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

Below are some examples of pages and features of the National Data Sharing Portal.

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Home Page

Datasets Search

Dataset Details

API Catalogue

Project Details

The creation of a Public Service Data Catalogue represents a significant step towards making the Target State a reality, in line with the Transparency, Reuse and Analytics guiding principles in the Public Service Data Strategy (download pdf for more details).

CHALLENGES

The design, build and roll-out of such a data catalogue solution had to address a number of organisational and technological challenges. Derilinx used their expertise in Open Data and data sharing to work with the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) team to address these challenges.

  • Build engagement with Public Bodies in order to address the Data Auditing process.
  • Understand the data silos inside the PSBs and help them to open and share information.
  • Map users and behaviours to properly address what they require from the data catalogue.
  • Prepare a development roadmap for the current features and future releases of the catalogue.
  • Map and collect the initial data sources into the data catalogue.

WORK DELIVERED

This catalogue provides high level information on over 1,300 key datasets across almost 100 public service bodies (both the number of datasets and publishers are growing every month). It catalogues key data held by these public bodies, including citizens data, business data, and data critical to business decisions or service delivery.

Derilinx has played a pivotal role in the successful development and ongoing maintenance of the Public Service Data Catalogue. The process followed is as outlined below.

1. Together with the dedicated OGCIO team, Derilinx designed, built, tested and rolled-out the Public Service Data Catalogue.

  • Datacatalogue.gov.ie is a customised version of the Derilinx datAdore platform that addresses specific requirements linked to the nature of the catalogue, for instance the ability to share metadata information within a particular PSB, across multiple PSBs or in a fully open manner with the public.

2. Derilinx shared their international experience in building similar Open Data Solutions to support the OGCIO project team in key activities including:

  • Shaping the outline Data Audit exercise across all Irish PSBs and collecting the information gathered across them.
  • Completing the necessary ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) and data preparation activities to ensure that the quality of the information published on the portal is as high as possible.

3. In terms of on-going management, an overall programme of portal enhancement and ecosystem management initiatives are being put in place to:

  • Improve the portal with additional features.
  • Support PSBs on improving data management and data maturity related practices.
  • Ensure that best practices are shared between data publishers and data-re-users to maximise the impact.

In 2023, the OGCIO aimed to align its efforts and guidance with the Public Service Data Strategy to facilitate long-term data planning for Public Service Bodies (PSBs). This approach focuses on improving data quality, enhancing data sharing, and developing the necessary technical infrastructure to support seamless data exchange. As an outcome of this initiative, a new API Catalogue, accessible to logged-in users, was integrated into the existing data infrastructure. Additionally, several frameworks and templates were delivered, including the Data Sharing Standards Framework, Data Quality Framework, Data Sharing Ethics Framework, Base Registry Criteria, and the Data Strategy Template.

As PSBs increasingly collect, store and process large volumes of data in order to deliver public services, there is a growing need to catalogue this data. The Public Service Data Catalogue enables PSBs to describe their data holdings, providing information on their datasets including details such as the dataset’s scope and purpose. The catalogue provides citizens with descriptive information (in simple plain English) about datasets, including their purpose, their coverage and whether they include any personal or sensitive personal data. It aims to promote awareness, openness and transparency around data held by the Public Service.

TECHNOLOGY USED

Smart Dublin - Dublinked Open Data Platform
Ireland's Open Data Portal - data.gov.ie

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