Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
Central Statistics Office, Ardee Road, Rathmines, Dublin 6 D06FX52
1.6. Contact email address
Restricted from publication
1.7. Contact phone number
Restricted from publication
1.8. Contact fax number
Restricted from publication
2.1. Metadata last certified
27 June 2023
2.2. Metadata last posted
27 June 2023
2.3. Metadata last update
27 June 2023
Material Flow Accounts record the domestic extraction of resources from the environment (broken down between biomass, metallic minerals, non-metallic minerals and fossil fuels); physical trade; the release of materials back to the environment after being used in the domestic economy (emissions to air, landfill waste, emissions to water, dissipative use of products and dissipative losses); and input and output balancing items.
The principal variables disseminated are: Domestic Extraction (Biomass, Metals, Non-Metallic Minerals and Fossil Fuels); Physical Exports and Imports; Emissions to Air, Land, Water and Dissipative Use of Products and Balancing items.
The CSO provides Eurostat with a comnpleted Material Flow Accounts Questionnaire on an annual basis. The Questionnaire contains the following tables:
Table A: Domestic Extraction
Table B: Imports - Total Trade
Table D: Exports - Total Trade
Table F: Domestic Processed Output
Table G: Balancing Items
3.1. Data description
Table A: Domestic Extraction
Table B: Imports - Total Trade
Table D: Exports - Total Trade
Table F: Domestic Processed Output
Table G: Balancing Items
3.2. Classification system
The Combined Nomenclature is used in the compilation of trade statistics used in Material Flow Accounts and the PRODCOM classification is used in the compilation of data on the domestic extraction of metals and non-metallic minerals.
3.3. Coverage - sector
All sectors in Ireland
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
Economy-wide material flow accounts (EW-MFA) provide an aggregate overview, in thousand tonnes per year, of the material flows into and out of an economy. EW-MFA cover solid, gaseous, and liquid materials, except for bulk flows of water and air. Like the system of national accounts, EW-MFA constitute a multi-purpose information system. The detailed material flows provide a rich empirical database for numerous analytical purposes.
Further, EW-MFA are used to derive various material flow indicators
Table A: Domestic Extraction
Material inputs from the natural environment to the economy are called domestic extraction. There are four types of domestic extraction:
Biomass;
Metallic minerals;
Non-metallic minerals; and
Fossil fuels.
Materials that are extracted from the environment without the intention of using them are not included. Examples of unused extraction are soil and rock excavated during construction, overburden from mining, the unused parts of felling in forestry, unused catch in fishing, unused parts of the straw harvest in agriculture, and natural gas flared or vented.
Biomass
Biomass in general comprises organic non-fossil material of biological origin. The flow from the environment to the economy is recognised at the point of harvest. The classification of material flows for domestic extraction of biomass has six main sections:
Crops;
Used crop residues;
Fodder crops;
Grazed biomass;
Wood from cultivated and non-cultivated forests;
and wild fish catch, aquatic plants/animals, hunting and gathering.
A characteristic feature of all types of biomass is its considerable moisture content, which may account for more than 95% in the case of fresh living plant biomass. The moisture content is very variable across plant parts and species and vegetation periods. Fodder crops, grazed biomass and wood have to be converted to a standardised moisture content. Other biomass is accounted for at its weight at the time of harvest.
Crops: Includes primary harvest of all crops from arable land and permanent cultures. This includes major staple foods such as cereals, roots and tubers, pulses, vegetables as well as commercial feed crops, industrial crops and all fruits and nuts from permanent cultures. It also includes flowers, Christmas trees, seeds, and short rotation wood such as Miscanthus and Willow. Own account production of agricultural goods is regarded as domestic extraction.
Used Crop Residues: In most cases, primary crop harvest is only a fraction of total plant biomass of the respective cultivar. The residual biomass, such as straw, may be put to further economic use such as for bedding material in livestock husbandry, as animal feed, for energy production, and as industrial raw material. Crop residues are regarded as domestic extraction irrespective of whether they are sold or used for intra-unit consumption. Residues which are ploughed into the soil or burned in the field are not accounted for as used extraction. A significant amount of fodder is consumed by animals feeding directly from pastures (grazed biomass). Grazed biomass is regarded as domestic extraction. Grass type fodder crops have been reported in dry weight (15% moisture).
Straw crop residue figures are generated by multiplying cereal crop tonnage by Eurostat harvest and recovery rates.
Other crop residues are obtained by multiplying the tonnage figures of oil seed rape and sugar beet residues by their respective harvest and recovery rates.
Fodder Crops: Figures are generated by taking grass silage, hay, arable silage, fodder beet, green maize, fodder rape and kale and other cereals figures and multiplying the area under cultivation by national yield factors. Fodder crops are reported in dry weight.
Grazed Biomass: Two main estimation methods are possible for the calculation of grazed biomass: a supply-side approach or a demand-side approach. The supply-side approach multiplies the areas under grass silage, hay, pasture and rough grazing by national yield factors.
The demand-side approach takes the annual fodder requirement of the existing livestock and subtracts it from the overall roughage requirement of livestock. The total roughage requirements for ruminant animals is calculated using average roughage intakes per animal multiplied by the number of animals in each category.
The supply side approach to the calculation of grazed biomass has been the one adopted in the production of statistics for this release.
Wood from cultivated and non-cultivated forests:
Only harvested timber is regarded as domestic extraction and not the total growth of trees. Increments to the stock of standing timber are regarded as positive from an environmental viewpoint and are not considered part of domestic extraction until it is harvested.
Wood output may be reported in solid cubic metres which must then be converted into tonnes. The density factors which are reported by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change refer to oven dry mass of wood. Therefore, the original density factors of the IPCC publication were transformed by factors which converted solid cubic metres into tonnes at 15% moisture content.
Wood figures are counted on an “overbark” basis. Bark accounts for approximately 10% of stem wood weight. A significant fraction of the bark is of economic use (e.g. energy production). The part of the bark which is used is regarded as domestic extraction. All biomass which remains in the forest, and is not used (branches, root-stock etc.), is not counted as domestic extraction. It is assumed that all harvested wood over bark is used economically.
Wood figures for 2015 -2021 are based on the CSO’s Roundwood Removals Survey. Before then they were calculated by an external consultant.
National conversion factors were used this yearto convert wood in wet weight into dry weight, rather than the factors specified in the Eurostat Manual.
Wild fish catch, aquatic animals/plants, hunting and gathering: This category comprises the extraction of all wild (non-cultivated) aquatic biomass including seaweed as well as fish caught in sea and inland waters. Cultivated aquatic resources (aquaculture) are not regarded as domestic extraction. There is a discontinuity in the time series. Figures from 2007 onwards are compiled by the CSO and refer to fish landings by Irish vessels in Irish ports and Irish vessels in foreign ports (in tonnes of live weight equivalents). Figures between 2000 and 2004 are provided by the CSO and refer to fish landings by Irish boats in Irish ports, while figures for 2005-2006 are provided by the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority and refer to all fish landings in Ireland.
Metallic minerals
In Material Flow Accounts extraction of metal ores is measured as gross ore. Accounting for domestic extraction of metals and non-metallic minerals refers to the run-of-mine production (the total amount of extracted crude mineral that is submitted to the first processing step). Material extracted but not used as an input for subsequent processing is not counted as domestic extraction.
If two or more metals are obtained from the same crude ore then the total amount of ore has to be allocated to the different metals. This occurs in Ireland where lead and zinc are mined together.
The total amount of gross ore is calculated by dividing the metal content of the main metal by the ore grade of that metal. The allocation of gross ore to lead and zinc was based on their relative shares of metal content in volume terms. In previous years relative value shares of metal content were used.
A small amount of silver is also mined.
The figures for lead, zinc, and silver extraction were obtained from the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications.
Non-metallic minerals
Non-metallic minerals cover the following categories:
Marble, granite, sandstone, porphyry, basalt, other ornamental or building stone;
Chalk and dolomite;
Slate;
Chemical and fertiliser minerals;
Salt;
Limestone and gypsum;
Crushed rock;
Clays and kaolin;
Sand and gravel; and
Other.
The CSO PRODCOM survey was the main data source used to compile these figures. Adjustments were made in some years for non-response, incorrect returns and below threshold items. The crushed rock and sand and gravel statistics were supplemented using the CSO Road Freight Survey for data not reported in PRODCOM. The basis for this under-reporting assumption is that PRODCOM data relate to sales by enterprises with 3 or more employees and hence may exclude aggregates extracted for own use as well as below threshold activity.
Fossil Fuels
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland’s energy balance is the main data source for the domestic extraction of fossil fuels. Peat (both sod and milled) and natural gas are the two main material products that are extracted. Peat used for non-energy purposes such as horticulture is also included. Horticultural peat data are estimated using PRODCOM and Trade data for enterprises in the sector.
Tables B and D: Good Exports and Imports
The demarcation of trade flows follows the methodology used in external trade statistics (goods are measured as they physically cross the national frontier), rather than the residence principle as applied in National Accounts.
Eurostat has provided a key for classifying goods according to their level of manufacturing (see below). This is useful as imports of semi-manufactured and finished goods are recorded using their imported weight rather than by their raw material equivalent weight and gives an insight into the relative composition of Ireland’s imports.
Raw materials are products produced by primary industries such as agriculture, forestry, fishing, and mining;
Semi-manufactured products are further processed raw products that do not yet constitute finished products;
Finished products are not subject to further processing.
Some traded products are measured in units other than net mass e.g. number of aircraft. The net mass has been estimated using the monetary value or the supplementary unit value.
Table F: Domestic Processed Output
Domestic Processed Output indicates the total weight of materials which are released back to the environment after being used in the domestic economy. Exported and imported materials are not included in DPO. There are five main categories:
Emissions to air;
Waste landfilled (uncontrolled);
Emissions to water;
Dissipative use of products; and
Dissipative losses.
Emissions to Air
Emissions to air are gaseous or particulate materials released to the atmosphere from production or consumption processes in the economy. Air emissions include emissions from controlled landfills because such landfills are considered to be part of the economy. N2O emissions from product use and NMVOC emissions by solvents are accounted for as dissipative use of products. Emissions to air from fertiliser application, such as N2O and NH3 are not accounted for in Domestic Processed Output. The related primary output is fertiliser spread on agricultural soil. The inclusion of these emissions thus would represent double-counting.
Air emissions figures are based on the application of the Territorial Principle used in National Inventory Reports compiled by the Environmental Protection Agency under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution. Under the Territorial Principle emissions from the national territory are included and those outside the national territory are excluded. In contrast, under the Residence Principle, air emissions arising from resident units of a given national economy, are recorded regardless of where these emissions occur geographically.
Waste Landfilled (Uncontrolled)
Wastes are commonly reported in wet weight which have been converted to dry matter value. The figures for this category were obtained from the EPA and they refer to the deposit of municipal waste only.
Emissions to Water
Emissions to water are materials which cross the boundary from the economy back into the Environment. Only data on flows of pollutants into the water bodies were reported and not data on pollutant concentration in the water bodies. The figures for this category were obtained from the EPA.
It is assumed that 5% of organic fertiliser (manure) produced is lost as an emission to water.
Dissipative Use of Products
Examples of dissipative use are inorganic and organic fertilisers such as manure, compost, or sewage sludge. Manure spread on agricultural land is reported in dry weight.
The fertiliser figures consist of three straight fertilisers - nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium – compound products and agricultural lime. These are reported in total weights rather than nutrient contents.
Sewage sludge refers to any solid, semi-solid, or liquid residue removed during the treatment of municipal waste water or domestic sewage. Sewage sludge is reported in dry weight by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Compost is used as a fertiliser. It is reported in dry weight.
Pesticides have been reported as active ingredients rather than total mass.
Dissipative Losses
Dissipative losses are unintentional outputs of materials to the environment resulting from abrasion, corrosion, and erosion at mobile and stationary sources, and from leakages or from accidents during the transport of goods. No data for dissipative losses have been calculated for this release.
Table G: Balancing Items
These data comprise items required on the input side to balance a given output which is already accounted for, or items which must be considered on the output side to balance a given input.
Input Balancing Items: These consist of oxygen used in combustion processes; oxygen used in respiration by humans, livestock and bacterial respiration from solid waste and wastewater; nitrogen used in the Haber-Bosch process to produce ammonia; and water requirements for the domestic production of exported beverages.. The calculation of these input items relies on the use of coefficients in the Eurostat Material Flow Accounts Compilation Guidelines.
Output Balancing Items: These consist of water vapour released by the combustion of fuels; water vapour and carbon dioxide produced by the respiration of humans and livestock; and excorporated water from biomass products. The calculation of these output items relies on the use of conversion coefficients in the Eurostat Material Flow Accounts Compilation Guidelines and Table G Estimation Tool in the Eurostat EW-MFA Questionnaire.
Derived Indicators
Direct Material Input measures the input of materials directly used by the economy, which are all materials that form part of products or are used in production and consumption activities. DMI equals used extraction (including that which is used or contained in exports) plus imports.
Physical Trade Balance measures the difference between the total mass of imports and the total mass of exports (imports minus exports) in tonnes.
Domestic Material Consumption measures the total amount of material directly consumed by the economy. It is the sum of domestic extraction and imports less exports.
Net Material Accumulation is the difference between inputs from the environment and the Rest of the World into the economy and the outputs from the economy into the environment and the Rest of the World.
Resource Productivity measures the amount of GDP at constant prices compared with Domestic Material Consumption. It is a measure of how efficiently resources are used in the economy.
3.5. Statistical unit
Thousand tonnes
3.6. Statistical population
EW-MFA include all materials (excluding water and air) crossing the system boundary of the national economy of the reporting country. The economy is demarcated by the conventions of the national accounting system (resident units). In Eurostat's EW-MFA material inputs to the economy cover extractions of natural resources (excluding water and air) from the natural environment and imports of material products (goods) from the rest of the world economy (ROW). Material outputs are disposals of materials to the natural environment and exports of material products and waste to the Rest of the World.
3.7. Reference area
State
3.8. Coverage - Time
1994-2021
3.8.1. Coverage – Time: by questionnaire table
Questionnaire table
From (YEAR)
To (YEAR)
Comments
Domestic extraction (Table A)
1994
2021
Imports – Total trade (Table B)
1994
2021
Exports – Total trade (Table D)
1994
2021
Domestic processed output (Table F)
1994
2021
Balancing items (Table G)
1994
2021
Material flow accounts in raw material equivalents (RME) (Table I)
3.9. Base period
Not applicable because EW-MFA are not reported as indices.
Thousand Tonnes
2021
See Section 6.1 - 6.2 below.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Economy-wide material flow accounts (EW-MFA) are legally covered by Regulation (EU) 691/2011 on European Environmental Economic Accounts
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Data sharing is governed by the 1993 Statistics Act
See Sections 7.1 and 7.2 below.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
All information supplied to the CSO is treated as strictly confidential. The Statistics Act, 1993 sets stringent confidentiality standards: Information collected may be used only for statistical purposes, and no details that might be related to an identifiable person or business undertaking may be divulged to any other government department or body. These national statistical confidentiality provisions are reinforced by the following EU legislation: Council Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics for data collected for EU statistical purposes. Further details are outlined in the CSO's Code of Practice on Statistical Confidentiality.
For more information on the CSO confidentiality policy please visit:
Confidential data can be identified based on the number or dominance of individual enterprises. Confidential data are flagged '(c)' and not published
See Sections 8.1 - 8.3 below
8.1. Release calendar
The date of dissemination of all statistics released by CSO can be found in the Release Calendar published in CSO.ie. This calendar is regularly updated. The deadline for the annual EW-MFA questionnaire is April 30th (T + 16 months). After validation the gap-filled data are published in Eurostat's online database around June T+18 months).
In accordance with Principle 6 of the European Statistics Code of Practice all users of CSO statistics have equal access via the CSO website at the same time of 11 AM. Any privileged pre-release access to any outside user is limited, controlled and publicised. In the event that leaks occur, pre-release arrangements are revised so as to ensure impartiality.
The CSO recognises that in very limited circumstances a business need for pre-release access may be substantiated. Any form of pre-release access is a privilege and a strict CSO pre-release access policy is adhered to for these special requests. The full pre-release access policy can be accessed at:
There are approximately 1,200 consultations to the online national Material Flow Accounts tables on the CSO website annually with around 600 of those being unique page views.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
Micro data are not disseminated to users.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Not applicable
10.5.1. Metadata - consultations
Not measured.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
The estimation process is based on the methodology set out in the 2018 Eurostat publication, “Economy-Wide Material Flow Accounts Handbook” and earlier Eurostat Manuals.
Information (e.g. manuals, electronic questionnaires) is available on the CSO’s and Eurostat websites
The CSO avails of an office wide Quality Management Framework (QMF). This framework allows all CSO processes and outputs to meet the required standard as set out in the European Statistics Code of Practice (ESCOP). The QMF foundations are based on establishing the UNECE’s Generic Statistical Business Process Model (GSBPM) as the operating statistical production model to achieve a standardised approach to Quality Management. All and any changes implemented to CSO processes and outputs require adherence to the QMF.
To ensure quality of EW-MFA data The CSO implements the following quality assurance elements:
1) Methodological guidelines from Eurostat to assist countries in compiling and providing internationally harmonised EW-MFA;
2) A wide range of validation procedures to check the quality of data received. The validation procedures check:
completeness
internal consistency;
correctness of footnotes and confidentiality;
plausibility of reported time series (annual change rates);
plausibility of revisions;
external consistency (cross-domain plausibility);
And use of estimation tools contained in the EW-MFA Questionnaire.
3) Gap-filling of missing statistical information.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Quality management is good. Validation procedures, estimation of missing statistical data (gap-filling) and quality reporting are in place.
Data quality could still be improved, in particular for some quantitatively important elements which need to be estimated (e.g. fodder crops, grazed biomass, crushed rock extraction, sand and gravel extraction and peat harvest).
See Sections 12.1 - 12.3 below.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Eurostat is the main international user of Material Flow Account statistics. They use the data for measuring environmental sustainability, resource productivity, material footprints and the circular economy.
National users of Material Flow Accounts statistics include environmental organisations, policy makers in government departments, the media, educational institutions and the general public.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
There are no systematic studies of user satisfaction.
12.3. Completeness
See Section 12.3.1 below.
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
Data are complete for tables A-H in the Eurostat EW-MFA Questionnaire. However, no information on Raw Material Equivalents (Table I) have been calculated.
See Section 13.1 - 13.3 below.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
EW-MFA are compiled from a wide range of data sources. The overall accuracy is considered good. But there may be problems with the accuracy of data on Fodder Crops and Grazed Biomass as year specific yield rates are not available for the whole times eries. There may also a problem with the accuracy of data on the extraction of Crushed Rock and Sand and Gravel, which are based on PRODCOM data supplemented with data from based on road transport freight. Sod Peat and Peat for Horticulture figures have also been imputed for most years.
Material Flow Accounts are submitted to Eurostat within 16 months of the end of the year to which the figures relate as required by the EU Regulation 691/2011. They are also published on the CSO website
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
Material Flow Accounts are submitted to Eurostat within 16 months of the end of the reference year
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
Eurostat publishes the final Material Flow Accounts results in t+18 months after the reference year.
14.2. Punctuality
See Section 14.2.1 below.
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
Ireland failed to meet its Eurostat transmission deadline this year. The CSO sent the 2023 MFA Questionnaire to Eurostat on June 26th 2023.
See Sections 15.1 - 15.4 below.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
The accounts are compiled in line with Eurostat guidelines in so far as this is possible. They can therefore be considered methodologically sound, and as they are compiled annually in a consistent manner, they are comparable over time. A limitation with regard to comparability between countries is that some of the data received from the EPA refers to emissions produced in Ireland (territorial emissions), whereas a record of residential emissions is requested by Eurostat.
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Not applicable because physical imports and exports as recorded in EW-MFA are not specified by origin and/or destination.
15.2. Comparability - over time
See Section 15.2.1 below.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
There are discontinuities in some categories over time, such as peat production in Domestic Extraction in Table A and fertilisers in Dissipative Use of Products in Table F
15.2.1.1. Comparability - over time detailed
Year (of the break in series)
Table
MF-code(s)
Reason for' break in time series'
2015
Table A Wood
Biomass
New CSO survey introduced to collect data
2005 and 2007
Table A Fisheries
Biomass
Different definitions used in source data
2012
Table A
Peat Production
Sod Peat figures imputed for 2012-2021
2000 and 2021
Table F
Air Emissions
Residence Principle applied by Eurostat for 2000-2021.
2007
Table F Fertilisers
Dissipative Use of Products
Different definitions used in source data
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Cross domain checks are carried out where possible. For example, total aggregates data for Crushed Rock and Sand and Gravel are taken from PRODCOM figures and cross-checked with Road Transport Freight data, British Geological Survey data, figures supplied by the Irish Concrete Federation and the European organisation UEPG.
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
Not applicable; reported EW-MFA data are only annual.
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts
The data are coherent with national accounts and environmental-economic accounts.
15.4. Coherence - internal
The internal coherence is very high, ensured by the accounting framework.
Compilation of the 2020 MFA Questionnaire and 2020 MFA national release will have taken six month’s work by one Statistician, three weeks work by one Senior Statistician one month’s work by two other members of the CSO Environment Division when the task is completed.
See Section 17.1 - 17.2 below
17.1. Data revision - policy
Revisions refer to changes made to published statistical data when the information used in its production has been updated or corrected. This information includes all data used in compiling the statistic e.g. respondent data, administrative data, weights and factors, methodology, classifications, definitions, modifications to survey questionnaires, survey scope and data collection methods.
Data are revised on an annual basis as corrections and revisions to the figures are applied.
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
Not known
See Sectio 18.1 - 18.5 below.
18.1. Source data
See 18.1 below.
18.1.1. Source data - Table A, B, D, F and G
Data sources used in Ireland include other divisions in the CSO; the Environmental Protection Agency, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland; the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, Bord na Móna, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority, the Irish Concrete Federation, the British Geological Survey and individual enterprises.
We do not compile Table I of the EW-MFA Questionnaire yet.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Data are collected annually.
18.3. Data collection
No survey data are used in the data collection process for compiling the Material Flow Accounts. Administrative data are used instead.
18.4. Data validation
The CSO uses the EW-MFA Compilation Guidelines published by Eurostat and consults Eurostat about any significant errors, anomalies or uncertainties in the data.
Excel data is checked against output data generated by SAS programs;
Nation-specific conversion factors rather than European wide ones are applied where possible. European conversion factors taken from the Eurostat Manuals; missing data are imputed; proxy variables are examined; and relevant reports are consulted to consider the plausibility of our figures.
18.5. Data compilation
The following issues connected with data compilation in the MFA release should be noted:
Fodder Crops and Grazed Biomass in Table A are based on the application of invariant national yield factors until 2010 rather than year specific yields (as after 2010) or the European factors contained in the calculation tool of the Eurostat MFA Questionnaire.
Wood figures are calculated using national factors to convert wood from wet to dry weight rather than those contained in the Eurostat Manual.
Both Crushed Rock and Sand and Gravel figures in Table A are based on PRODCOM data supplemented by Road Freight transport data rather than the calculation tools in the Eurostat Questionnaire.
Sod Peat and Peat for Horticulture figures in Table A are imputed for several years.
Emissions to Air: Figures in Table F are based on the application of the Territorial Principle rather than the Residence Principle as requested by Eurostat. This is because there is no continuous time series available for correcting air emissions based on the Residence Principle.
18.5.1. Imputation - rate
Not calculated.
18.5.2. Estimation approaches for specific items
Estimation Approaches for Specific Items
Estimation Methods
Code
Label
Do you use the Eurostat estimation approach recommended in the EW-MFA compilation Guide? (yes/no)
Have you developed your own estimation approach (yes/no)
Please explain briefly the estimation approach including possible data sources for auxiliary data?
Pleas specify coefficients used (if not Eurostat coefficients)
Table A MF1.2.1.1
Straw
Yes
No
Cereal production figures are supplied by CSO Agriculture Division. These are then transformed into Straw figures by the application of Eurostat Harvest and Recovery Rates.
Table A MF1.2.1.2
Other Crop Residues
Yes
No
Sugar Beet and Oilseed Rape l production figures are supplied by CSO Agriculture Division. These are then transformed into Used Crop Residue figures by the application of Eurostat Harvest and Recovery Rates.
Table A: MF 1.2.2.1
Fodder Crops
No
Yes
Fodder Crop figures are supplied by CSO Agriculture Division and transformed using national yield factors provided by Teagasc after 2010 and year invariant factors before 2010.
Table A: MF1.2.2.2
Grazed Biomass
No
Yes
Eurostat’s Supply Side Approach is used. Silage, Hay, Pasture and Rough Grazing data are supplied by the CSO Agriculture Division and then are transformed using national yield factors to produce Grazed Biomass figures.
Table A: MF 1.3
Wood
No
Yes
National factors are used to convert wood from wet weight to dry weight rather than Eurostat factors contained in the Eurostat Manual
Table A: MF 2.2.3
Lead
No
Yes
Metals data are provided by the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications. Lead and Zinc are mined in Ireland as coupled production. Gross Ores are allocated to the two metals using relative volume weights for metal content rather than relative value weights as used previously.
Table A: MF2.2.4
Zinc
No
Yes
Metals data are provided by the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications. Lead and Zinc are mined in Ireland as coupled production. Gross Ores are allocated to the two metals using relative volume weights for metal content rather than relative value weights as used previously.
Table A: MF3.6
Crushed Rock
No
Yes
Crushed Rock figures are compiled using PRODCOM and Road Freight Survey Transport Data concerning the delivery of goods to road works and building sites
Table A; MF3.8
Sand and Gravel
No
Yes
Sand and Gravel figures are compiled using PRODCOM and Road Freight Survey Transport Data concerning the delivery of goods to road works and building sites
Table A: MF4.1.4
Peat
No
Yes
Peat for Combustion figures are provided by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. Peat for Horticulture figures are compiled using PRODCOM and Trade data for individual enterprises.
Table F: MF7.1
Emissions to Air
No
Yes
Air Emission figures are calculated based on the Territorial Principle rather than the Residence Principle.
18.5.3. Adjustment used of correspondence table for Tables B and D
Not applicable.
18.5.4. Adjustment used of conversion factors for Tables B and D
Not applicable.
18.5.5. Fuel trade, residence adjustment
No residence adjustment is made for the fuel trade.
18.5.6. Significant problems
The most significant problem in compiling MFA data is the fact that no year specific yields are applied to Fodder Crops and Grazed Biomass in Table A before 2010. Another issue is that Sod Peat and horticultural peat have been imputed for many years. Table F Air Emissions data is based on the Territorial Princpile exceptwhere correcetd by Eurostat for 2000-2018.
18.6. Adjustment
Not applicable.
18.6.1. Seasonal adjustment
Not applicable.
Table A: Domestic Extraction
Table B: Imports - Total Trade
Table D: Exports - Total Trade
Table F: Domestic Processed Output
Table G: Balancing Items
27 June 2023
Economy-wide material flow accounts (EW-MFA) provide an aggregate overview, in thousand tonnes per year, of the material flows into and out of an economy. EW-MFA cover solid, gaseous, and liquid materials, except for bulk flows of water and air. Like the system of national accounts, EW-MFA constitute a multi-purpose information system. The detailed material flows provide a rich empirical database for numerous analytical purposes.
Further, EW-MFA are used to derive various material flow indicators
Table A: Domestic Extraction
Material inputs from the natural environment to the economy are called domestic extraction. There are four types of domestic extraction:
Biomass;
Metallic minerals;
Non-metallic minerals; and
Fossil fuels.
Materials that are extracted from the environment without the intention of using them are not included. Examples of unused extraction are soil and rock excavated during construction, overburden from mining, the unused parts of felling in forestry, unused catch in fishing, unused parts of the straw harvest in agriculture, and natural gas flared or vented.
Biomass
Biomass in general comprises organic non-fossil material of biological origin. The flow from the environment to the economy is recognised at the point of harvest. The classification of material flows for domestic extraction of biomass has six main sections:
Crops;
Used crop residues;
Fodder crops;
Grazed biomass;
Wood from cultivated and non-cultivated forests;
and wild fish catch, aquatic plants/animals, hunting and gathering.
A characteristic feature of all types of biomass is its considerable moisture content, which may account for more than 95% in the case of fresh living plant biomass. The moisture content is very variable across plant parts and species and vegetation periods. Fodder crops, grazed biomass and wood have to be converted to a standardised moisture content. Other biomass is accounted for at its weight at the time of harvest.
Crops: Includes primary harvest of all crops from arable land and permanent cultures. This includes major staple foods such as cereals, roots and tubers, pulses, vegetables as well as commercial feed crops, industrial crops and all fruits and nuts from permanent cultures. It also includes flowers, Christmas trees, seeds, and short rotation wood such as Miscanthus and Willow. Own account production of agricultural goods is regarded as domestic extraction.
Used Crop Residues: In most cases, primary crop harvest is only a fraction of total plant biomass of the respective cultivar. The residual biomass, such as straw, may be put to further economic use such as for bedding material in livestock husbandry, as animal feed, for energy production, and as industrial raw material. Crop residues are regarded as domestic extraction irrespective of whether they are sold or used for intra-unit consumption. Residues which are ploughed into the soil or burned in the field are not accounted for as used extraction. A significant amount of fodder is consumed by animals feeding directly from pastures (grazed biomass). Grazed biomass is regarded as domestic extraction. Grass type fodder crops have been reported in dry weight (15% moisture).
Straw crop residue figures are generated by multiplying cereal crop tonnage by Eurostat harvest and recovery rates.
Other crop residues are obtained by multiplying the tonnage figures of oil seed rape and sugar beet residues by their respective harvest and recovery rates.
Fodder Crops: Figures are generated by taking grass silage, hay, arable silage, fodder beet, green maize, fodder rape and kale and other cereals figures and multiplying the area under cultivation by national yield factors. Fodder crops are reported in dry weight.
Grazed Biomass: Two main estimation methods are possible for the calculation of grazed biomass: a supply-side approach or a demand-side approach. The supply-side approach multiplies the areas under grass silage, hay, pasture and rough grazing by national yield factors.
The demand-side approach takes the annual fodder requirement of the existing livestock and subtracts it from the overall roughage requirement of livestock. The total roughage requirements for ruminant animals is calculated using average roughage intakes per animal multiplied by the number of animals in each category.
The supply side approach to the calculation of grazed biomass has been the one adopted in the production of statistics for this release.
Wood from cultivated and non-cultivated forests:
Only harvested timber is regarded as domestic extraction and not the total growth of trees. Increments to the stock of standing timber are regarded as positive from an environmental viewpoint and are not considered part of domestic extraction until it is harvested.
Wood output may be reported in solid cubic metres which must then be converted into tonnes. The density factors which are reported by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change refer to oven dry mass of wood. Therefore, the original density factors of the IPCC publication were transformed by factors which converted solid cubic metres into tonnes at 15% moisture content.
Wood figures are counted on an “overbark” basis. Bark accounts for approximately 10% of stem wood weight. A significant fraction of the bark is of economic use (e.g. energy production). The part of the bark which is used is regarded as domestic extraction. All biomass which remains in the forest, and is not used (branches, root-stock etc.), is not counted as domestic extraction. It is assumed that all harvested wood over bark is used economically.
Wood figures for 2015 -2021 are based on the CSO’s Roundwood Removals Survey. Before then they were calculated by an external consultant.
National conversion factors were used this yearto convert wood in wet weight into dry weight, rather than the factors specified in the Eurostat Manual.
Wild fish catch, aquatic animals/plants, hunting and gathering: This category comprises the extraction of all wild (non-cultivated) aquatic biomass including seaweed as well as fish caught in sea and inland waters. Cultivated aquatic resources (aquaculture) are not regarded as domestic extraction. There is a discontinuity in the time series. Figures from 2007 onwards are compiled by the CSO and refer to fish landings by Irish vessels in Irish ports and Irish vessels in foreign ports (in tonnes of live weight equivalents). Figures between 2000 and 2004 are provided by the CSO and refer to fish landings by Irish boats in Irish ports, while figures for 2005-2006 are provided by the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority and refer to all fish landings in Ireland.
Metallic minerals
In Material Flow Accounts extraction of metal ores is measured as gross ore. Accounting for domestic extraction of metals and non-metallic minerals refers to the run-of-mine production (the total amount of extracted crude mineral that is submitted to the first processing step). Material extracted but not used as an input for subsequent processing is not counted as domestic extraction.
If two or more metals are obtained from the same crude ore then the total amount of ore has to be allocated to the different metals. This occurs in Ireland where lead and zinc are mined together.
The total amount of gross ore is calculated by dividing the metal content of the main metal by the ore grade of that metal. The allocation of gross ore to lead and zinc was based on their relative shares of metal content in volume terms. In previous years relative value shares of metal content were used.
A small amount of silver is also mined.
The figures for lead, zinc, and silver extraction were obtained from the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications.
Non-metallic minerals
Non-metallic minerals cover the following categories:
Marble, granite, sandstone, porphyry, basalt, other ornamental or building stone;
Chalk and dolomite;
Slate;
Chemical and fertiliser minerals;
Salt;
Limestone and gypsum;
Crushed rock;
Clays and kaolin;
Sand and gravel; and
Other.
The CSO PRODCOM survey was the main data source used to compile these figures. Adjustments were made in some years for non-response, incorrect returns and below threshold items. The crushed rock and sand and gravel statistics were supplemented using the CSO Road Freight Survey for data not reported in PRODCOM. The basis for this under-reporting assumption is that PRODCOM data relate to sales by enterprises with 3 or more employees and hence may exclude aggregates extracted for own use as well as below threshold activity.
Fossil Fuels
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland’s energy balance is the main data source for the domestic extraction of fossil fuels. Peat (both sod and milled) and natural gas are the two main material products that are extracted. Peat used for non-energy purposes such as horticulture is also included. Horticultural peat data are estimated using PRODCOM and Trade data for enterprises in the sector.
Tables B and D: Good Exports and Imports
The demarcation of trade flows follows the methodology used in external trade statistics (goods are measured as they physically cross the national frontier), rather than the residence principle as applied in National Accounts.
Eurostat has provided a key for classifying goods according to their level of manufacturing (see below). This is useful as imports of semi-manufactured and finished goods are recorded using their imported weight rather than by their raw material equivalent weight and gives an insight into the relative composition of Ireland’s imports.
Raw materials are products produced by primary industries such as agriculture, forestry, fishing, and mining;
Semi-manufactured products are further processed raw products that do not yet constitute finished products;
Finished products are not subject to further processing.
Some traded products are measured in units other than net mass e.g. number of aircraft. The net mass has been estimated using the monetary value or the supplementary unit value.
Table F: Domestic Processed Output
Domestic Processed Output indicates the total weight of materials which are released back to the environment after being used in the domestic economy. Exported and imported materials are not included in DPO. There are five main categories:
Emissions to air;
Waste landfilled (uncontrolled);
Emissions to water;
Dissipative use of products; and
Dissipative losses.
Emissions to Air
Emissions to air are gaseous or particulate materials released to the atmosphere from production or consumption processes in the economy. Air emissions include emissions from controlled landfills because such landfills are considered to be part of the economy. N2O emissions from product use and NMVOC emissions by solvents are accounted for as dissipative use of products. Emissions to air from fertiliser application, such as N2O and NH3 are not accounted for in Domestic Processed Output. The related primary output is fertiliser spread on agricultural soil. The inclusion of these emissions thus would represent double-counting.
Air emissions figures are based on the application of the Territorial Principle used in National Inventory Reports compiled by the Environmental Protection Agency under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution. Under the Territorial Principle emissions from the national territory are included and those outside the national territory are excluded. In contrast, under the Residence Principle, air emissions arising from resident units of a given national economy, are recorded regardless of where these emissions occur geographically.
Waste Landfilled (Uncontrolled)
Wastes are commonly reported in wet weight which have been converted to dry matter value. The figures for this category were obtained from the EPA and they refer to the deposit of municipal waste only.
Emissions to Water
Emissions to water are materials which cross the boundary from the economy back into the Environment. Only data on flows of pollutants into the water bodies were reported and not data on pollutant concentration in the water bodies. The figures for this category were obtained from the EPA.
It is assumed that 5% of organic fertiliser (manure) produced is lost as an emission to water.
Dissipative Use of Products
Examples of dissipative use are inorganic and organic fertilisers such as manure, compost, or sewage sludge. Manure spread on agricultural land is reported in dry weight.
The fertiliser figures consist of three straight fertilisers - nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium – compound products and agricultural lime. These are reported in total weights rather than nutrient contents.
Sewage sludge refers to any solid, semi-solid, or liquid residue removed during the treatment of municipal waste water or domestic sewage. Sewage sludge is reported in dry weight by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Compost is used as a fertiliser. It is reported in dry weight.
Pesticides have been reported as active ingredients rather than total mass.
Dissipative Losses
Dissipative losses are unintentional outputs of materials to the environment resulting from abrasion, corrosion, and erosion at mobile and stationary sources, and from leakages or from accidents during the transport of goods. No data for dissipative losses have been calculated for this release.
Table G: Balancing Items
These data comprise items required on the input side to balance a given output which is already accounted for, or items which must be considered on the output side to balance a given input.
Input Balancing Items: These consist of oxygen used in combustion processes; oxygen used in respiration by humans, livestock and bacterial respiration from solid waste and wastewater; nitrogen used in the Haber-Bosch process to produce ammonia; and water requirements for the domestic production of exported beverages.. The calculation of these input items relies on the use of coefficients in the Eurostat Material Flow Accounts Compilation Guidelines.
Output Balancing Items: These consist of water vapour released by the combustion of fuels; water vapour and carbon dioxide produced by the respiration of humans and livestock; and excorporated water from biomass products. The calculation of these output items relies on the use of conversion coefficients in the Eurostat Material Flow Accounts Compilation Guidelines and Table G Estimation Tool in the Eurostat EW-MFA Questionnaire.
Derived Indicators
Direct Material Input measures the input of materials directly used by the economy, which are all materials that form part of products or are used in production and consumption activities. DMI equals used extraction (including that which is used or contained in exports) plus imports.
Physical Trade Balance measures the difference between the total mass of imports and the total mass of exports (imports minus exports) in tonnes.
Domestic Material Consumption measures the total amount of material directly consumed by the economy. It is the sum of domestic extraction and imports less exports.
Net Material Accumulation is the difference between inputs from the environment and the Rest of the World into the economy and the outputs from the economy into the environment and the Rest of the World.
Resource Productivity measures the amount of GDP at constant prices compared with Domestic Material Consumption. It is a measure of how efficiently resources are used in the economy.
Thousand tonnes
EW-MFA include all materials (excluding water and air) crossing the system boundary of the national economy of the reporting country. The economy is demarcated by the conventions of the national accounting system (resident units). In Eurostat's EW-MFA material inputs to the economy cover extractions of natural resources (excluding water and air) from the natural environment and imports of material products (goods) from the rest of the world economy (ROW). Material outputs are disposals of materials to the natural environment and exports of material products and waste to the Rest of the World.
State
2021
EW-MFA are compiled from a wide range of data sources. The overall accuracy is considered good. But there may be problems with the accuracy of data on Fodder Crops and Grazed Biomass as year specific yield rates are not available for the whole times eries. There may also a problem with the accuracy of data on the extraction of Crushed Rock and Sand and Gravel, which are based on PRODCOM data supplemented with data from based on road transport freight. Sod Peat and Peat for Horticulture figures have also been imputed for most years.
The following issues connected with data compilation in the MFA release should be noted:
Fodder Crops and Grazed Biomass in Table A are based on the application of invariant national yield factors until 2010 rather than year specific yields (as after 2010) or the European factors contained in the calculation tool of the Eurostat MFA Questionnaire.
Wood figures are calculated using national factors to convert wood from wet to dry weight rather than those contained in the Eurostat Manual.
Both Crushed Rock and Sand and Gravel figures in Table A are based on PRODCOM data supplemented by Road Freight transport data rather than the calculation tools in the Eurostat Questionnaire.
Sod Peat and Peat for Horticulture figures in Table A are imputed for several years.
Emissions to Air: Figures in Table F are based on the application of the Territorial Principle rather than the Residence Principle as requested by Eurostat. This is because there is no continuous time series available for correcting air emissions based on the Residence Principle.
See 18.1 below.
Annual
Material Flow Accounts are submitted to Eurostat within 16 months of the end of the year to which the figures relate as required by the EU Regulation 691/2011. They are also published on the CSO website
The accounts are compiled in line with Eurostat guidelines in so far as this is possible. They can therefore be considered methodologically sound, and as they are compiled annually in a consistent manner, they are comparable over time. A limitation with regard to comparability between countries is that some of the data received from the EPA refers to emissions produced in Ireland (territorial emissions), whereas a record of residential emissions is requested by Eurostat.
