Denis Naughten
Ceist:6 Mr. Naughten asked the Taoiseach the current steps being taken in the Central Statistics Office to improve the completion of and access to data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28192/00]
Ceisteanna – Questions. - CSO Data.
The Central Statistics Office is consistently working to improve the range, detail and timeliness of its statistical products. Major developments have been put in place over the past few years, including significant improvements to economic statistics, driven by the needs of the EU, the addition of the quarterly national household survey to the statistical infrastructure, new releases in the business statistics area and increased coverage of the services sector.
Developments in the area of economic statistics have included the introduction of quarterly national accounts, the new European system of accounts – ESA95 – and the putting in place of a new enhanced collection and compilation system for the balance of payments.
In the demographic and social statistics area, the quarterly national household survey was initiated in 1997 and the priority objective of publishing the key results within three months is being achieved on a regular basis. Results from the 1996 census of population were available much quicker than for previous censuses and arrangements are in hand to achieve further improvements for the upcoming 2001 census. The consumer price index has been compiled on a monthly basis since January 1997 while results from the 1999-2000 household budget survey should be available in the first half of next year.
As regards business statistics, the rotating three-year coverage of the services sector has been upgraded to an annual cycle, the NACE classification has been introduced for the main industrial inquiries and an updated retail sales index was launched at the end of 1999. New information on stocks and capital investment has been published and new earnings estimates for certain service sectors were introduced in 2000.
As regards access to statistics, the CSO has taken a number of initiatives in recent years. The release time of official statistics was brought forward to 11 a.m. to facilitate key users and the media. Statistical releases were revamped in the recent past to make them more user friendly and all are now posted on the CSO's website at the exact time of release.
The CSO's website contains all the office's principal statistics and plans are in hand to improve its coverage and functionality. Arrangements are also in place to provide researchers with access to anonymised micro-data files, which is a major step in improving the availability of data.
I welcome these developments, which have added to our national statistical infrastructure, and look forward to further developments by the CSO.
Is the Minister of State aware that many companies claim the information requested by the CSO is not clear, often ambiguous and time consuming and difficult to collate? In addition, there is usually a duplication of requests for information from the CSO and other Government bodies. What measures are being put in place to streamline the system, minimise this kind of bureaucracy and duplication and facilitate the easier and quicker compilation of statistics?
If the Deputy studies my reply he will see it outlines the major developments undertaken by the CSO in recent years. There have been significant improvements in the areas of economic statistics, many driven by EUROSTAT and EU requirements, a new approach to the quarterly national household survey and a new series of statistics on business, housing and labour. There has also been the introduction of quarterly national accounts, the European system of accounts, developments in the consumer price index and so on.
In addition, there is a new series of business statistics covering the services sector which is upgraded in annual cycles and so on. A range of initiatives have been taken which have resulted in the CSO being a more efficient and speedy organisation. The CSO has done a very professional job, particularly in the past two years.
Perhaps the Minister of State did not understand my question. Companies which have to submit information to the CSO claim its requests are not clear, often ambiguous, time consuming and difficult to collate and that there is a duplication of requests from the CSO and other State bodies. Can we expect to see measures put in place where there would be one request from the CSO or other State bodies? Can we further expect to see a streamlining of the system through the installation of information technology systems, developed by the CSO, in these companies so that information can be electronically transferred to the CSO which would ensure the collation of information, avoid duplication, streamline the system and reduce the cost for industry?
The reality is the State requires statistics from a range of sources and it sets out to obtain them. I recall chairing a small business forum some years ago to which a range of representatives of small businesses were invited. The forms required to be completed were laid out in front of them and they were asked to select the ones they would prefer to do without. Forms are required for the National Safety Council, housing reports, labour reports, safety and medical matters, insurance schemes and other areas across the board. All that information must be collected. I would welcome if the information required to be collected from small businesses could be whittled down to one large form. While I examined this matter in great detail a few years ago, it warrants a fresh examination to ascertain if the amount of bureaucracy that firms face can be reduced. The payback to firms is that they get a better service from the State because it has better information and is, therefore, able to make better policy and that policy benefits companies. It is not the wish of the State to load companies with the requirement to complete numerous bureaucratic forms. I will take up the Deputy's point with the CSO to make sure it is not adding to the problem.
A Ceann Comhairle-—
The time allocated for this question has expired.
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