AQO 3786/22-27

Ms Kate Nicholl
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 11/06/2026
Answered On Date: 24/06/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Finance for an update on the establishment of the NISRA Data Office to support better data linkage.

Answer:

The NISRA Data Office has been established in my Department with £5.3 million investment from the Public Sector Transformation Fund.

It aims to strengthen data governance, data literacy and data sharing within and across departments. By enabling government to make effective use of the extensive and valuable data it holds, the Data Office will support the delivery of evidence-based policy and drive improvements in public services.

Two “pathfinder” projects in Education and Health will demonstrate the power of integrated data. Supporting key Programme for Government priorities, one aims to use linked data to generate insights in support of improved outcomes for children with Special Educational Needs, while the other will bring together datasets to inform efforts to reduce hospital waiting times. The Data Office seeks to transform government data use, leading to more informed decisions, strengthened services and better outcomes for our people.