AIE Request
I. About OSi and Open Data
As a strong supporter of the Open Data Directive, OSi is committed to its implementation. OSi currently publishes 122 datasets, and it provides access to many other open datasets through its GeoHive platform (https://www.geohive.ie/ ), which is the state’s geospatial data hub.
As part of OSi’s compliance with EU Commission Implementing Regulation 2023/138 of 21st December 2022, which specifies a list of specific high-value datasets and their publication and reuse arrangements, OSi is making arrangements to comply with the Regulation.
Regulation 2023/138 was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on the 20th January 2023. It entered into force on the 9th February 2023 and it shall apply from 16 months after entry into force (June 2024).
OSi has been a leader in publishing open data, from Ireland’s COVID Data Hub and recently launched the Regional Development Monitor, both of which are hosted on OSi’s GeoHive platform.
I. Summary of Decision
I have now made a final decision to part-grant your request on 17th February 2023. OSi have addressed the points of your request (numbered 1-2 and 4-9) at Part III below. Query number 3 of your request is addressed in the attached documents named Records 1 and 2. Record 1 (attached to this decision letter) is part-granted. There are 3 redactions within this record by reason of Article 8(a)(i).
Record 2 (attached to this decision letter) is fully granted.
I wish to point out that OSi does not have the initial communication from the Open Data Unit in Department of Public Expenditure & Reform requesting that OSi provide Open Data Report, but we have provided a later version (reminder) of this request, herewith at Record 2. Record 2 helps provide context to Record 1, i.e. Record 2 sets out a list of questions by the Open Data Unit in Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and Record 1 sets out OSi’s answers to said questions
III. OSi responses to AIE Request queries;
1. Any data audits conducted by or for OSi to identify datasets under the Open Data Directive
The Open Data Directive mentions national and local maps, geospatial data, earth observation data, and mobility data. In accordance with the recent Open Data Directive Implementing Regulation, OSi now has direction on which data sets should be released as high-value datasets.
According to Regulation 2023/138, published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 20th January, 2023, OSi now has clear guidelines on which data is considered high value.
As a result of this clarity, data that needs to be released can now be accessed in greater detail. Regulation entered into force on the 9th February 2023 and it shall apply from 16 months after entry into force (June 2024).
Since all OSi geospatial data is actively managed in product management processes and applications, that is how OSi has identified data that can be made publicly accessible so far.
2. Directive 2019/1024/EU introduces the concept of high value datasets (HVDs). Please list any HVDs identified by OSi
The following OSi datasets have been identified as being of high value:
1. Administrative units
2. Geographic names
3. Buildings
4. Hydrography
5. Elevation
6. Land cover
7. Orthoimagery
8. Production and industrial facilities
9. Water
10. Transport networks
3. Under Regulation 4 of SI 376/2021 all Departments/Offices and relevant bodies under their aegis are obliged to supply to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform with information as requested from time to time, such as open data progress reports. Provide copies of the OSi progress reports as supplied to PER.
Please see Records 1 and 2 enclosed with this decision letter for only OSi Progress Report supplied to Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
4. All Departments/Offices and relevant bodies under their aegis must assign responsibility to an officer for matters arising under these Regulations in line with the national Open Data Strategy. Please provide contacts for any Open Data officers appointed at OSi from 2021 to date
Since 2016 OSi has maintained its own Open Data Portal located at: https://data-osi.opendata.arcgis.com/.
The portal contains contact details for OSi HQ and Open Data Office email address: opendataofficer@osi.ie
OSi has an Open Data page on its website at: https://osi.ie/about/open-data/
The Open Data Officer is Hugh Mangan. Queries relating to open data are directed to: opendataofficer@osi.ie
This email is set up as a distribution list which gets sent to a number of OSi employees.
5. In line with Regulation 13 of SI 376/2021, the details of any new exclusive arrangements being entered into must be published online at least two months before they come into force. Please provide list of any exclusive arrangements agreed to date by OSi
OSi has no exclusive arrangements in place.
6. Any exemptions sought by OSi to the release of open data, and which datasets these exemptions related to
OSi has not sought any exemptions.
7. Public Bodies must draft an Open Data Publication Plan. Provide a copy of any OSi draft or completed open data plans to date
Article 7(5) of the AIE Regulations states; 7(5) Where a request is made to a public authority and the information requested is not held by or for the authority concerned, that authority shall inform the applicant as soon as possible that the information is not held by or for it.
OSi does not have an Open Data Publication Plan. As OSi required clarity on the details of the implementing Regulation concerning High Value Data, it has not yet published an Open Data Plan.
The EU Commission has now published the Implementing Regulation on High Value Data (20th January 2023).
There are 10 different OSi data types covered by the High Value Implementing Regulation, which will result in the release of a great deal more individual OSi datasets.
A total of 122 datasets are currently available on OSi’s open data portal, which are then federated to https://data.gov.ie/
It must be noted that on 1st March 2023, OSi will merge with the Property Registration Authority and the Valuation Office to create Tailte Éireann, a new state agency. As a new entity, Tailte Éireann will publish its own Open Data Publication Plan, inheriting OSi’s geospatial data.
8. All public bodies need to publish details of what data is available for re-use and the licencing conditions that apply (CC BY 4.0 Attribution advised). Please provide a list of (where this differs from data audit list, see above)
OSi has an Open Data page on its website at: https://osi.ie/about/open-data/
All OSi data is available with a CC BY 4.0 licence.
9. Copy of OSi’s RPSI Policy (RPSI is Reuse of Public Sector Information) Article 7(5) of the AIE Regulations states;
7(5) Where a request is made to a public authority and the information requested is not held by or for the authority concerned, that authority shall inform the applicant as soon as possible that the information is not held by or for it.
OSi has no RPSI Policy (RPSI is Reuse of Public Sector Information).