5 Data sources
Kelly Fincham
- How to find data sources
- Short history of FOI (Freedom of Information) in Ireland
- How to file FOI requests in Ireland
- What’s the difference between FOIA and FOIL in the US?
How to find data sources
There are several typical approaches for finding data sources online. The most obvious is the Central Statistics Office (CSO) with its treasure trove of statistical information on various aspects of Irish life, economy, and demographics.
There is also the Irish “open data” portal at data.gov.ie which holds a very diverse range of datasets from different sources.
Academic institutions and research centers often hold studies and data sets in specialised fields and will be linked here later.
Further afield, you could also look at non-governmental organisations and think tanks which often publish reports and data on topics related to their areas of focus. Commercial data providers and market research firms are also sources, though their data might require a subscription or purchase.
Searching tip: Use “csv” and/or “xls” in Google searches.
Quick links
https://www.nyc.gov/site/nypd/stats/reports-analysis/stopfrisk.page
https://data.cityofnewyork.us/Health/NYC-Dog-Licensing-Dataset/nu7n-tubp
Ireland’s Central Statistics Office
Short history of the FOI
The Irish Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, introduced in 1997, marked an important move towards greater transparency and accountability in Ireland. Despite its initial promise, the Act included multiple exemptions and restrictions that often impeded effective information access.
In 2003, a €15 fee for FOI requests was introduced by the Fianna Fáil government, further complicating access for the public and journalists. However, in 2014, following concerted efforts by activists like Gavin Sheridan, these fees were abolished.
For more detail on the background to the Act, Ken Foxe has a great history of the time (including the fact that government interest in public access information could be seen through the lens that “then Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy – who introduced the legislation – did not even attend the final debate on it, instead choosing to go to the races at Cheltenham”).
How to use FOI
Ireland: The Irish Government has a detailed set of instructions but by far the best way to learn about using FOI in Ireland is to visit Ken Foxe’s FOI Guide
UK: The UK Government information site
US: US Government information site and useful advice from Electronic Frontier Foundation site
For US students, FOIL is the state Law (the L); and FOIA is the federal Act (the A).
