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For any question on data and metadata, please contact: Eurostat user support |
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1.1. Contact organisation | Central Statistics Organisation |
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1.2. Contact organisation unit | Environment and Climate Division |
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1.5. Contact mail address | Central Statistics Office, Ardee Road, Rathmines, Dublin 6 D06FX52 |
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2.1. Metadata last certified | 27/06/2023 | ||
2.2. Metadata last posted | 27/06/2023 | ||
2.3. Metadata last update | 27/06/2023 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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. |
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3.3. Coverage - sector | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
All sectors in Ireland |
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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
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3.5. Statistical unit | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Thousand tonnes |
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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.
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3.7. Reference area | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
State |
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3.8. Coverage - Time | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1994-2021 |
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3.8.1. Coverage – Time: by questionnaire table | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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3.9. Base period | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Not applicable because EW-MFA are not reported as indices. |
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Thousand Tonnes |
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2021 |
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See Section 6.1 - 6.2 below. |
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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 |
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6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing | |||
Data sharing is governed by the 1993 Statistics Act |
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See Sections 7.1 and 7.2 below. |
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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: https://www.cso.ie/eNot applicableboutus/lgdp/csodatapolicies/statisticalconfidentiality/ |
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7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment | |||
Confidential data can be identified based on the number or dominance of individual enterprises. Confidential data are flagged '(c)' and not published |
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See Sections 8.1 - 8.3 below |
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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). |
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8.2. Release calendar access | |||
The release calendar can be accessed via the CSO website, www.cso.ie, or directly from this link: https://www.cso.ie/en/csolatestnews/releasecalendar/ |
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8.3. Release policy - user access | |||
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: https://www.cso.ie/en/aboutus/lgdp/csodatapolicies/csopolicyonpre-releaseaccess/ |
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Annual |
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See Sections 10.1 - 10.7 below |
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10.1. Dissemination format - News release | |||
No news releases are issued. |
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10.2. Dissemination format - Publications | |||
The results are available on the Eurostat and CSO websites |
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10.3. Dissemination format - online database | |||
Selected extracts from the results are posted on the CSO’s data dissemination database, PxStat https://data.cso.ie/product/MFA Eurostat Material Flow Accounts tables are posted on the Eurostat data dissemination database at: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/env_ac_mfa/default/table |
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10.3.1. Data tables - consultations | |||
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.
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10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access | |||
Micro data are not disseminated to users. |
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10.5. Dissemination format - other | |||
Not applicable |
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10.5.1. Metadata - consultations | |||
Not measured. |
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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 https://www.cso.ie/en/methods/environment/materialflowaccounts/ |
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10.6.1. Metadata completeness - rate | |||
Not calculated |
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10.7. Quality management - documentation | |||
Information (e.g. manuals, electronic questionnaires) is available on the CSO’s and Eurostat website https://www.cso.ie/en/methods/environment/materialflowaccounts/ |
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See Sections 11.1 and 11.2 below. |
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11.1. Quality assurance | |||
Quality Management Framework 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:
3) Gap-filling of missing statistical information.
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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).
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See Sections 12.1 - 12.3 below. |
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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. |
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12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction | |||
There are no systematic studies of user satisfaction.
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12.3. Completeness | |||
See Section 12.3.1 below. |
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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.
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See Section 13.1 - 13.3 below. |
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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. Annexes: EW-MFA_Annex_3 |
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13.2. Sampling error | |||
See Section 13.2.1 below. |
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13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators | |||
Not applicable. |
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13.3. Non-sampling error | |||
See Section 13.3.1 - 13.3.5 below |
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13.3.1. Coverage error | |||
Not applicable |
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13.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate | |||
Not applicable. |
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13.3.1.2. Common units - proportion | |||
Not applicable |
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13.3.2. Measurement error | |||
Not applicable. |
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13.3.3. Non response error | |||
Not applicable. |
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13.3.3.1. Unit non-response - rate | |||
Not applicable. |
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13.3.3.2. Item non-response - rate | |||
Not applicable. |
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13.3.4. Processing error | |||
Not applicable. |
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13.3.5. Model assumption error | |||
Not applicable. |
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See Sections 14.1 - 14.2 below. |
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14.1. Timeliness | |||
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 |
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14.1.1. Time lag - first result | |||
Material Flow Accounts are submitted to Eurostat within 16 months of the end of the reference year |
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14.1.2. Time lag - final result | |||
Eurostat publishes the final Material Flow Accounts results in t+18 months after the reference year. |
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14.2. Punctuality | |||
See Section 14.2.1 below. |
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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. |
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See Sections 15.1 - 15.4 below. |
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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. |
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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. |
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15.2. Comparability - over time | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
See Section 15.2.1 below. |
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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 |
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15.2.1.1. Comparability - over time detailed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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. |
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15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Not applicable; reported EW-MFA data are only annual.
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15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The data are coherent with national accounts and environmental-economic accounts. |
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15.4. Coherence - internal | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The internal coherence is very high, ensured by the accounting framework. |
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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.
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See Section 17.1 - 17.2 below |
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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. The data revision policy that CSO statistics adheres to can be found via the following link: https://www.cso.ie/en/methods/quality/treatmentofrevisions/ |
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17.2. Data revision - practice | |||
Data are revised on an annual basis as corrections and revisions to the figures are applied. |
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17.2.1. Data revision - average size | |||
Not known |
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See Sectio 18.1 - 18.5 below. |
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18.1. Source data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
See 18.1 below. |
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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. Annexes: EW-MFA_Annex_1 |
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18.1.2. Source data - Table I | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
We do not compile Table I of the EW-MFA Questionnaire yet. |
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18.2. Frequency of data collection | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Data are collected annually. |
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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.
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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.
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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. |
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18.5.1. Imputation - rate | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Not calculated. |
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18.5.2. Estimation approaches for specific items | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Estimation Approaches for Specific Items
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18.5.3. Adjustment used of correspondence table for Tables B and D | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Not applicable. |
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18.5.4. Adjustment used of conversion factors for Tables B and D | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Not applicable. |
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18.5.5. Fuel trade, residence adjustment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No residence adjustment is made for the fuel trade. |
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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. |
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18.6. Adjustment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Not applicable. |
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18.6.1. Seasonal adjustment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Not applicable. |
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