Develop an Open Data Strategy 2017-2020 (IE0044)

To increase the volume and quality of government data being published in an open format. Objective: Improve access to information and strengthen transparency by scaling up the volume and quality of open data available on the Government’s open data portal: data.gov.ie Status quo: Governance structures are in place via the Open Data Governance Board (ODGB) and a Public Bodies Working Group (PBWG) provides technical advice to support the Open Data Initiative. The Foundation document for the development of the Public Service Open Data Strategy and the Open Data Technical Framework are publicly available. Consultation with stakeholders has commenced. Data.gov.ie portal has been developed and enhanced and the number of datasets has grown to approx. 4500. A number of public bodies are actively engaged with the initiative but more engagement is required to bring other public bodies on board to make their data available as open data. Greater promotion of the portal amongst potential users is also required. Ambition: To develop and implement an Open Data Strategy setting out short and long term goals over 2017-2020 including: • building the number of datasets accessible through the open data portal: data.gov.ie • monitoring compliance with the Technical Framework to ensure open data is in line with best practice • raising awareness and promoting usage through multiple communication channels, such as participation at seminars, conferences, producing blogs, newsletters, etc. Lead implementing organisations: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Timeline: January 2017 to June 2020.
Commitment 11: Develop an Open Data Strategy 2017-2020. OGP values: Access to information. New or ongoing commitment: New. Lead implementation organisations Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Other actors involved - government All government bodies Verifiable and measurable milestones to fulfil the commitment New or ongoing Start date End date Complete ongoing consultation with all stakeholders on proposed Open Data Strategy. Ongoing December 2016 Develop a Draft Open Data Strategy 2017-2020. Seek feedback on the Draft Open Data Strategy 2017-2020 including public consultation and then finalise and publish the Open Data Strategy 2017- 2020. New Jan 2017 April 2017 Begin implementation of the Open Data Strategy 2017-2020 actions. New July 2017 2020

11. Develop and Open Data Strategy 2017-2020

Commitment Text:

Objective: Improve access to information and strengthen transparency by scaling up the volume and quality of open data available on the Government’s open data portal: data.gov.ie

Status quo: Governance structures are in place via the Open Data Governance Board (ODGB) and a Public Bodies Working Group (PBWG) provides technical advice to support the Open Data Initiative. The Foundation document for the development of the Public Service Open Data Strategy and the Open Data Technical Framework are publicly available. Consultation with stakeholders has commenced. Data.gov.ie portal has been developed and enhanced and the number of datasets has grown to approx. 4500. A number of public bodies are actively engaged with the initiative but more engagement is required to bring other public bodies on board to make their data available as open data. Greater promotion of the portal amongst potential users is also required.

Ambition: To develop and implement an Open Data Strategy setting out short and long term goals over 2017-2020 including:

• building the number of datasets accessible through the open data portal: data.gov.ie

• monitoring compliance with the Technical Framework to ensure open data is in line with best practice

• raising awareness and promoting usage through multiple communication channels, such as participation at seminars, conferences, producing blogs, newsletters, etc.

Milestones:

11.1. Complete ongoing consultation with all stakeholders on proposed Open Data Strategy and then Develop a Draft Open Data Strategy 2017-2020.

11.2. Begin implementation of the Open Data Strategy 2017-2020.

Responsible institution: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

Supporting institutions: All government bodies

Start date: January 2017

End date: June 2020

Context and Objectives

The development of open data policies was a major objective of Ireland’s first action plan, which saw establishment of an Open Data Ireland Governance Board (ODIGB), and saw Ireland adopt the principals of the G8 Open Data Charter.[Note: For more information, see the IRM’s Ireland End-of-Term Report 2014-2016, https://www.opengovpartnership.org/documents/ireland-end-of-term-report-2014-2016, pg. 15. ] Building on these completed commitments, this commitment calls for ongoing consultations with stakeholders on a proposed Open Data Strategy, develop a Draft Open Data Strategy 2017-2020, and begin the implementation of the Open Data Strategy 2017-2020. The Open Data Strategy 2017-2020 will involve:

Building the number of datasets accessible through the open data portal: data.gov.ie

Monitoring compliance with the Technical Framework to ensure open data is in line with best practice

Raising awareness and promoting usage through multiple communication channels, such as participation at seminars, conferences, producing blogs, newsletters, etc.

The commitment stipulates that the Open Data Strategy be drafted in consultation with stakeholders, thus relevant to the OGP value of civic partition. The building of datasets and use of the open data portal is also relevant to the OGP value of access to information. The commitment has a clear deliverable (the Open Data Strategy), and a reasonably clear roadmap towards measuring it development (such as the open data portal, the Technical Framework, and the awareness-raising initiatives). However, the method of stakeholder consultation during the development is not specified, and the commitment states ‘all’ stakeholders will be consulted, which is vague. Therefore, the specificity is marked as medium. If fully implemented, the Open Data Strategy will allow for the publication of more datasets that are useful to citizens. The ongoing consultation with stakeholders will ensure that the Open Data Strategy is designed in a way that fits stakeholder needs, while the awareness-raising campaign could increase traffic to the datasets. However, it is unlikely to be a reform that could transform ‘business as usual’ in the policy area. For data to contribute to transformation, there is always the core limitation that mobilisation always needs to happen around the use of the data.

Completion

Overall, the commitment was completed. With regard to Milestone 11.1, public consultations took place in 2016, where the Open Data Governance Board met with representatives from various public bodies, businesses, CSOs, and researchers. Once a draft of the Open Data Strategy was released, more consultation took place. This is verified by desk research which examined the six responses made by various stakeholders to the strategy in June 2017.[Note: See: http://www.per.gov.ie/en/open-data-consultation-and-research/. ] There is evidence that these responses were taken into consideration when the final document on the strategy was released in July 2017, as seen in DPER’s response to suggestions made by the CEO of Idiro Analytics. His suggestions were incorporated into the reformulation of Action 2.4 the Implementation Plan found in the final strategy.[Note: See the file, Response by DPER to Public Consultations received on http://www.per.gov.ie/en/open-data-consultation-and-research/ For a copy of the final strategy adopted in July 2017, see also: http://www.per.gov.ie/en/open-data-consultation-and-research/ The research team is grateful to the Open Data Unit of DPER for having supplied a copy of the strategy.]

The key themes guiding the Open Data Strategy include:[Note: Taken from the Open Data Strategy 2017-2022, pg. 19.]

· Broaden the range of public bodies actively engaged in the Open Data Initiative – the ‘Open Data Providers’,

· Broaden the scope and improve the quality, quantity and range of Open Data and associated metadata (to be used internally and made available to the public),

· Continue to engage with all stakeholders and encourage use of Open Data,

· Support and encourage various groups of open data users,

· Provision of framework to support and train all Data providers,

· Evaluate the impact, benefit and risks of open data,

· Ensure effective government structures are in place.

With regard to the implementation of the policy (Milestone 11.2), the evidence suggests that this has taken place since July 2017 when the Strategy was adopted. DPER is working with the organisation UrbanTide to adopt frameworks for open data training and technical support.[Note: See: https://data.gov.ie/content/blog-urbantide-irelands-open-data-training-provider-public-service. ] The implementation phase of this commitment will take place over the next three years, including more trainings, awareness raising, and engagement with key stakeholders on feedback. However, it is important to note that this Milestone 11.2’s stated objective is to ‘begin’ implementation of the Open Data Strategy. While implementation has begun, the process is ongoing.

Next Steps

This commitment does not need to be included in the next action plan as it has been completed. However, it is important that the government continues to consult stakeholders in the implementation of open data policy. It is indeed impressive that in its 2017 examination of Open Data policies, which assessed the features available on national Open Data portals and the expected impact of Open Data, the European Commission ranked Ireland first in Europe in Open Data Maturity Assessment.[Note: Further details of the report can be found online here: https://www.europeandataportal.eu/en/highlights/open-data-maturity-europe-2017.] Every effort should be made to sustain this high-ranking position.

For commitment details, see https://www.opengovpartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2001/01/Ireland_End-Term_...