Open Data Public Bodies Seminar

11th February 2015

Evelyn O’ConnorDepartment 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/

Examples of data on portal

• 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• Doesn’t include: – Unpublished datasets – Datasets that are not machine readable – Datasets where licensed for a fee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

– 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

– 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?