Minister Chambers announces publication of the Data Sharing Support Suite

The Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, Jack Chambers, today announced the publication of the Data Sharing Support Suite for Public Service Bodies. Developed under the Data Sharing and Governance Act 2019 (DSGA), this suite of operational rules, procedures, standards and guidelines represents a major milestone for the Data Governance Board (DGB).

This achievement reflects the Department’s role at the centre of government in driving the delivery of Better Public Services through strong governance and standards. It also reinforces Ireland’s position as an international leader in the trusted use of data, as recognised in the OECD Digital Government Index.

Minister Chambers said:

“The launch of the Data Sharing Support Suite marks a significant step forward in strengthening data governance across the public service. These supports will enable public bodies to share data securely and efficiently, improving service delivery while maintaining transparency and trust. Ireland continues to lead internationally in this area, as reflected in our strong standing in the OECD Digital Government Index.”

Quote from Barry Lowry, Government Chief Information Officer

“The Data Sharing Support Suite is a cornerstone of our commitment to ethical, secure and efficient data sharing. It provides the tools and standards that public bodies need to deliver better services for citizens while maintaining the highest levels of governance and trust.”

Governance and Oversight

The development of this suite involved rigorous review and oversight. Each document was examined through the Committees of the Data Governance Board, underwent peer review with public service stakeholders, and was ratified by the DGB before being advised to the Minister. This process reflects the intent of the DSGA: that an independent board would advise the Minister on the prescribing of data rules, procedures, standards and guidelines.

1. Data Sharing Standards Framework - ogcio.gov.ie (new)
2. DSGA Accession Agreement Playbook - ogcio.gov.ie (new)
3. Application Programming Interface (API) Standards and Guidelines (new)
4. DSGA Model Accession Agreement Template - ogcio.gov.ie (new, includes 2 attachments: English and Irish templates)
5. DSGA Data Sharing Agreement and Accession Guidelines - ogcio.gov.ie (updated)
6. DSGA Data Sharing Agreement Playbook - ogcio.gov.ie (updated)
7. DSGA Model Data Sharing Agreement Template - ogcio.gov.ie (updated, includes 2 attachments: English and Irish templates)

Benefits for Public Bodies and Citizens

• For citizens: Greater transparency and trust in how data is managed and shared. Updates to the DSGA Playbook were informed by public consultation.
• For public servants: Practical tools to integrate data sharing and API standards into organisational policies, enabling faster, safer and more efficient data sharing.
• For government: Continuous improvement of Data Sharing Agreements (DSA) and new opportunities for strategic data use across departments. Link to DSA Register: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-public-expenditure-infrastructure-public-service-reform-and-digitalisation/collections/data-governance-board-data-sharing-agreement-register/#the-dsga-data-sharing-agreement-register

Next Steps

• All documents are now available on OGCIO Publications and API Catalogue.
• Training and engagement will include webinars for Public Servants and further communications to support implementation.