Economic accounts for agriculture (aact)

National Reference Metadata in ESS Standard for Quality Reports Structure (ESQRS)

Compiling agency: Central Statistics Office

Eurostat metadata

Reference metadata

1. Contact
2. Statistical presentation
3. Statistical processing
4. Quality management
5. Relevance
6. Accuracy and reliability
7. Timeliness and punctuality
8. Coherence and comparability
9. Accessibility and clarity
10. Cost and Burden
11. Confidentiality
12. Comment
Related Metadata
Annexes (including footnotes)

For any question on data and metadata, please contact: Eurostat user support

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1. Contact

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1.1. Contact organisation

Central Statistics Office

1.2. Contact organisation unit

Agriculture Accounts and Production

1.5. Contact mail address

Central Statistcis Office,

Skehard Road,

Cork, T12 X00E

Ireland

2. Statistical presentation

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2.1. Data description

Main characteristics

2.1.1 Describe shortly the main characteristics of the statistics

The Economic Accounts for Agriculture (EAA) provide detailed information on value of output (producer prices and basic prices), intermediate consumption, subsidies and taxes, consumption of fixed capital, rent and interests, capital formation and income in the agricultural sector.

Reference period

2.1.2 Reference period of the data collection	2017
2.1.3 Is the reference period based on the calendar year starting January 1st and ending December 31st?	Yes
2.1.4 If No, please specify

National legislation

2.1.5 Is there a national legislation covering these statistics?	No
If Yes, please answer all the following questions.
2.1.6 Name of the national legislation
2.1.7 Link to the national legislation
2.1.8 Responsible organisation for the national legislation
2.1.9 Year of entry into force of the national legislation
2.1.10 Please indicate which variables required under EU regulation are not covered by national legislation, if any.
2.1.11 Please indicate which national definitions differ from those in the EU regulation, if any.
2.1.12 Is there a legal obligation for respondents to reply?

Additional comments on data description

2.2. Classification system

The EAA is an integral part of the European system of accounts and therefore for their compilation the Eurostat's general classification of economic activities, NACE Rev. 2, is used.

2.3. Coverage - sector

EAA cover division A01 of NACE Rev.2.

2.4. Statistical concepts and definitions

Statistical concepts and definitions are as defined by the Regulations (EC) No 138 of 2004 and No 549 of 2013

2.5. Statistical unit

In order to analyse flows generated by the production process and the use of goods and services, it is necessary to select units which emphasise relationships of a technico-economic kind. This requirement means that as a rule institutional units must be partitioned into smaller and more homogeneous units with regard to the kind of production. Local kind-of-activity units (local KAUs) are intended to meet this requirement as a first but practically-oriented operational approach

2.6. Statistical population

The agricultural holding, which is the unit currently used for statistical studies of agriculture (censuses, surveys of the structure of agricultural holdings), is the local KAU most appropriate to the agricultural industry. In addition to agricultural holdings, the agricultural industry comprises units made up of groups of producers (e.g. cooperatives) which produce wine and olive oil and specialised units which provide machines, material and labour for the performance of contract work.

2.7. Reference area

2.7.1 Geographical area covered	The entire territory of the country.
2.7.2 Which special Member State territories are included?	None

2.8. Coverage - Time

From the reference year 1990 to present

2.9. Base period

Base period changes every 5 years in accord with Agriculture Prices. Currently, the base year is 2015.

3. Statistical processing

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3.1. Source data

Overall summary

3.1.1 Total number of different data sources used	9 See Inventories for EAA for detail https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/749240/8257667/EAA_IE.pdf/456f3fa9-f404-45a9-ae6e-9bce61a7aebe
The breakdown is as follows:
3.1.2 Total number of sources of the type "Census"	0
3.1.3 Total number of sources of the type "Sample survey"	4
3.1.4 Total number of sources of the type "Administrative source"	4
3.1.5 Total number of sources of the type "Experts"	0
3.1.6 Total number of sources of the type "Other sources"	1

Census

If there is a specific census conducted in your country to collect data exclusively for the EAA please describe it in this part. For other data sources please use table 3.1 in the annexed Excel file. If metadata already exist just provide the name of the data source.
3.1.7 Name/Title
3.1.8 Name of Organisation responsible
3.1.9 Main scope
3.1.10 List used to build the frame
3.1.11 Any possible threshold values
3.1.12 Population size
3.1.13 Additional comments	No Census survey is conducted by CSO specifically for the purposes of EAA

Sample survey

If there is a specific survey conducted in your country to collect data exclusively for the EAA please describe it in this part. For other data sources please use table 3.1. If metadata already exist just provide the name of the data source.(e.g. FSS, Crop production, Animal production, Prices in Agriculture)
3.1.14 Name/Title
3.1.15 Name of Organisation responsible
3.1.16 Main scope
3.1.17 List used to build the frame
3.1.18 Any possible threshold values
3.1.19 Population size
3.1.20 Sample size
3.1.21 Sampling basis
3.1.22 If Other, please specify
3.1.23 Type of sample design
3.1.24 If Other, please specify
3.1.25 If Stratified, number of strata
3.1.26 If Stratified, stratification criteria
3.1.27 If Other, please specify
3.1.28 Additional comments	No sample survey is conducted by CSO specifically for the purposes of EAA

Administrative source

If there is a specific administrative source in your country witch provide data exclusively for the EAA please describe it in this part. For other administrative sources please use table 3.1. If metadata already exist just provide the name of the data source.
3.1.29 Name/Title
3.1.30 Name of Organisation responsible
3.1.31 Contact information (email and phone)
3.1.32 Main administrative scope
3.1.33 Geospatial Coverage
3.1.34 Update frequency
3.1.35 Legal basis
3.1.36 Are you able to access directly to the micro data?
3.1.37 Are you able to check the plausibility of the data, namely by contacting directly the units?
3.1.38 How would you assess the proximity of the definitions and concepts (including statistical units) used in the administrative source with those required in the EU regulation?
3.1.39 Please list the main differences between the administrative source and the statistical definitions and concepts
3.1.40 Is a different threshold used in the administrative source and statistical data?
3.1.41 If Yes, please specify
3.1.42 Additional comments	There is no administrative source in Ireland, which exists specifically for the purposes of EAA

Experts

If there is a specific expert source in your country witch provide data exclusively for the EAA please describe it in this part. For other expert sources please use table 3.1. If metadata already exist just provide the name of the data source.
3.1.43 Name/Title
3.1.44 Primary purpose
3.1.45 Legal basis
3.1.46 Update frequency
3.1.47 Expert data supplier
3.1.48 If Other, please specify
3.1.49 How would you assess the quality of those data?
3.1.50 Additional comments	Expert opinions are used on ad hoc basis and can not be considered a regular data source

Other sources

If there is more than one other statistical activity, please describe the main one below and the additional ones in table 3.1 of the annexed Excel file
3.1.51 Name/Title	Auction results of slaes of throughbred yearlings
3.1.52 Name of Organisation	Multiple auction houses
3.1.53 Primary purpose	The results of sales of Irish yearlings are aggregated to provide an estimate for horse output in EAA
3.1.54 Data type	Other
3.1.55 If Other, please specify	Auction results
3.1.56 How would you assess the quality of those data?	Good
3.1.57 Additional comments	The data are publicly available on the auction websites.

3.2. Frequency of data collection

Annual

3.3. Data collection

Census

If there is a specific census conducted in your country to collect data exclusively for the EAA please describe the method of data collection in this part. For other data sources please use table 3.3. If metadata alredy exist just provide the name of the data source.
3.3.1 Name/Title
3.3.2 Methods of data collection
3.3.3 If Other, please specify
3.3.4 If face-to-face or telephone interview, which method is used?
3.3.5 Data entry method, if paper questionnaires?
3.3.6 Please annex the questionnaire used (if very long: please provide the hyperlink)
3.3.7 Additional comments	No census survey is conducted by CSO specifically for the purposes of EAA

Sample survey

If there is a specific survay conducted in your country to collect data exclusively for the EAA please describe the method of data collection in this part.For other data sources please use table 3.3. If metadata alredy exist just provide the name of the data source.
3.3.8 Name/Title
3.3.9 Methods of data collection
3.3.10 If Other, please specify
3.3.11 If face-to-face or telephone interview, which method is used?
3.3.12 Data entry method, if paper questionnaires?
3.3.13 Please annex the questionnaire used (if very long: please provide the hyperlink)
3.3.14 Additional comments	No sample survey is conducted by CSO specifically for the purposes of EAA

Administrative source

If there is a specific administrative source in your country to collect data exclusively for the EAA please describe the metod of data collection in this part.For other data sources please use table 3.3. If metadata alredy exist just provide the name of the data source.
3.3.15 Name/Title
3.3.16 Extraction date
3.3.17 How easy is it to get access to the data?
3.3.18 Data transfer method
3.3.19 Additional comments	No administrative data source exists specifically for the purposes of EAA

Experts

If there is a specific expert source in your country witch provide data exclusively for the EAA please describe the metod of data collection in this part. For other expert sources please use table 3.3. If metadata alredy exist just provide the name of the data source.
3.3.20 Name/Title
3.3.21 Methods of data collection
3.3.22 Additional comments	There is no such source

3.4. Data validation

3.4.1 Which kind of data validation measures are in place?	Manual
3.4.2 What do they target?	Consistency Aggregates
3.4.3 If Other, please specify

3.5. Data compilation

3.5.1 Describe the data compilation process	Data compilation process is described in details in the Inventories for EAA, available on Eurostat website
3.5.2 Additional comments	http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/agriculture/economic-account-for-agriculture-inventories-2015

3.6. Adjustment

All adjustments are described in detail in the Inventories for EAA, published on the Eurostat website, see

http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/agriculture/economic-account-for-agriculture-inventories-2015

4. Quality management

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4.1. Quality assurance

4.1.1 Is there a quality management system used in the organisation?	Yes
4.1.2 If yes, how is it implemented?	Quality report and other metadata are available. Process mapping have been completed, which also covered documenting the processes. Standardised data management system is under development in the Office and will be implemented in the near future.
4.1.3 Has a peer review been carried out?	No
4.1.4 If Yes, which were the main conclusions?
4.1.5 What quality improvements are foreseen?	Other
4.1.6 If Other, please specify	Self-assessment questionnaire will be completed in the near future
4.1.7 Additional comments

4.2. Quality management - assessment

Development since the last quality report

4.2.1 Overall quality	Improvement
4.2.2 Relevance	Stable
4.2.3 Accuracy and reliability	Improvement
4.2.4 Timeliness and punctuality	Stable
4.2.5 Comparability	Stable
4.2.6 Coherence	Improvement
4.2.7 Additional comments

5. Relevance

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5.1. Relevance - User Needs

5.1.1 If certain user needs are not met, please specify which and why	All user needs seem to be met
5.1.2 Please specify any plans to satisfy needs more completely in the future
5.1.3 Additional comments

5.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction

5.2.1 Has a user satisfaction survey been conducted?	No
If Yes, please answer all the following questions
5.2.2 Year of the user satisfaction survey
5.2.3 How satisfied were the users?
5.2.4 Additional comments	Meetings with key stakeholders are conducted annually. They are fully satisfied with the content, quality and timeliness of Irish EAA

5.3. Completeness

5.3.1 Data completeness - rate	All requirements of the Regulation (EC) No 138 of 2004 are fulfilled
5.3.2 If not complete, which characteristics are missing?
5.3.3 Additional comments

6. Accuracy and reliability

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6.1. Accuracy - overall

6.1.1 How good is the accuracy?	Good
6.1.2 What are the main factors lowering the accuracy?	Restricted from publication
6.1.3 If Other, please specify
6.1.4 Additional comments

6.2. Sampling error

Not applicable

6.2.1. Sampling error - indicators

6.3. Non-sampling error

6.3.1. Coverage error

6.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate

6.3.1.2. Common units - proportion

6.3.2. Measurement error

Not applicable

6.3.3. Non response error

Not applicable

6.3.3.1. Unit non-response - rate

6.3.3.2. Item non-response - rate

6.3.4. Processing error

6.3.4.1. Imputation - rate

6.3.5. Model assumption error

Due to the threshold on farm's standard output applied by FADN, the results do not cover all units in the sector A01 of NACE Rev.2. To compensate a model is utilised, which is described in detail in the Irish Inventories for EAA (see link above), and examples provided. It is very difficult to estimate the size of the error introduced by this process.

6.4. Seasonal adjustment

Not applicable

6.5. Data revision - policy

Results of year 'n-1' are normally revised (finalised) and retransmitted to Eurostat with the final estimate of year 'n'.

Apart from this, revisions may be necessary when a change of methodology is introduced, e.g. if a data source becomes unavailable or a new superior data source is identified.

6.6. Data revision - practice

6.6.1 Data revision - average size	The results of the year 'n-1' are normally revised during work on the year 'n'. The revisions are usually small (less than 1%).
6.6.2 Were data revisions due to conceptual changes (e.g. new definitions) carried out since the last quality report?	Yes
6.6.3 What was the main reason for the revisions?	The main reasons for revisions of methodology is usually a change or loss of the data source. For example, Irish FADN changed the threshold on the standard output for the farms to be included into the frame. This necessitated revisions of multiple items of intermediate consumption, for which FADN is the main source. It is a normal practice for Agricultural Price Statistics to update baskets of goods during rebase. This may have a knock-on effect on EAA results, which are then revised back to the new base year.
6.6.4 How do you evaluate the impact of the revisions?	Important
6.6.5 Additional comments

7. Timeliness and punctuality

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7.1. Timeliness

7.1.1 When were the first results for the reference period published?	At T - 1 month
7.1.2 When were the final results for the reference period published?	At T + 6 month
7.1.3 Reasons for possible long production times?	Production times are very short

7.2. Punctuality

7.2.1 Were data released nationally according to a pre-announced schedule (Release Calendar)?	Yes
7.2.2 If Yes, were data released on the target date?	Yes
7.2.3 If No, reasons for delays?
7.2.4 Number of days between the national release date of data and the target date	Zero

8. Coherence and comparability

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8.1. Comparability - geographical

To be assessed by Eurostat

8.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient

8.2. Comparability - over time

8.2.1 Length of comparable time series	1990 to 2017
8.2.2 Have there been major breaks in the time series?	No
8.2.3 If Yes, please specify the year of break and the reason
8.2.4 Additional comments	Minor breaks may occur when the base year changes due to the changes in the baskets of goods used by Agriculture Prices

8.3. Coherence - cross domain

8.3.1 With which other national data sources have the data been compared?	National Farm Survey (FADN)
8.3.2 Describe briefly the results of comparisons	The results correlate very well
8.3.3 If no comparisons have been made, explain why
8.3.4 Additional comments

8.4. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics

8.5. Coherence - National Accounts

Use of EAA-data in NA calculations

Are EAA used by NA as data source for Group 01	Degree of implication	Please describe briefly the reasons
Output	Main source used
Intermediate consumption	Main source used
Fixed capital consumption	Not used
Compensation of employees	Main source used
Taxes	Main source used
Subsidies	Main source used
Rents	Secondary source used
Interest	Secondary source used
Gross fixed capital formation	Not used
Labour input	Main source used

Use of NA-data in EAA calculations

Are NA used as data source for EAA	Degree of implication	Please describe briefly the reasons
Output	Not used
Intermediate consumption	Secondary source used	Only the estimates for FISIM are calculated by National Accounts
Fixed capital consumption	Only source used
Compensation of employees	Not used
Taxes	Not used
Subsidies	Not used
Rents	Not used
Interest	Not used
Gross fixed capital formation	Only source used
Labour input	Not used

8.6. Coherence - internal

EAA are internally consistent

9. Accessibility and clarity

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9.1. Dissemination format - News release

9.1.1 Do you publish a news release?	No
9.1.2 If Yes, please provide a link

9.2. Dissemination format - Publications

9.2.1 Do you produce a paper publication?	No
9.2.2 If Yes, is there an English version?	No
9.2.3 Do you produce an electronic publication?	Yes
9.2.4 If Yes, is there an English version?	Yes
9.2.5 Please provide a link	https://www.cso.ie/en/statistics/agriculture/outputinputandincomeinagriculture/

9.3. Dissemination format - online database

9.3.1 Data tables - consultations	No data
9.3.2 Is an on-line database accessible to users?	Yes
9.3.3 Please provide a link	https://www.cso.ie/px/pxeirestat/Database/eirestat/Agricultural%20Output%20Input%20and%20Income/Agricultural%20Output%20Input%20and%20Income_statbank.asp?SP=Agricultural%20Output,%20Input%20and%20Income&Planguage=0

9.4. Dissemination format - microdata access

9.4.1 Are micro-data accessible to users?	No
9.4.2 Please provide a link

9.5. Dissemination format - other

9.6. Documentation on methodology

9.6.1 Are national reference metadata files available?	Yes
9.6.2 Please provide a link	https://www.cso.ie/en/methods/qualityreports/outputinputandincomeinagriculture
9.6.3 Are methodological papers available?	Yes
9.6.4 Please provide a link	https://www.cso.ie/en/methods/agricultureandfishing/oiiaa/
9.6.5 Is a handbook available?	No
9.6.6 Please provide a link

9.7. Quality management - documentation

9.7.1 Metadata completeness - rate	100% of CSO quality requirements
9.7.2 Metadata - consultations	No data
9.7.3 Is a quality report available?	Yes
9.7.4 Please provide a link	https://www.cso.ie/en/methods/qualityreports/outputinputandincomeinagriculture/

10. Cost and Burden

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10.1 Efficiency gains if compared to the previous quality report	Increased use of administrative data Further automation
10.2 If Other, please specify
10.3 Burden reduction measures since the previous quality report	None
10.4 If Other, please specify

11. Confidentiality

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11.1. Confidentiality - policy

11.1.1 Are confidential data transmitted to Eurostat?	Yes
11.1.2 If yes, are they confidential in the sense of Reg. (EC) 223/2009?	Yes
11.1.3 Describe the data confidentiality policy in place	The data is normally received by AAP section as aggregates, so it is up to data provider to point out, which data is confidential. Data providers are instructed to use k-(1,80) and k-(2,90) rules to determine confidential data. Closure of secondary cells is used to protect confidential data.

11.2. Confidentiality - data treatment

11.2.1 Describe the procedures for ensuring confidentiality during dissemination	Closure of secondary cells to protect confidential items is used as standard measure
11.2.2 Additional comments

12. Comment

Related metadata

Annexes