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, Skehard Road, Mahon, Cork, Ireland, T12 X00E.
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
6 September 2024
2.2. Metadata last posted
6 September 2024
2.3. Metadata last update
6 September 2024
3.1. Data description
Structural business statistics (SBS) describes the structure, conduct and performance of economic activities, down to the most detailed activity level (several hundred economic sectors). SBS covers all activities of the business economy with the exception of agricultural activities, public administration and (largely) non-market services such as education and health. Main characteristics (variables) of the SBS data category:
• "Business demographic" variables (e.g. Number of active enterprises);
• "Output related" variables (e.g. Net turnover, Value added);
• "Input related" variables: labour input (e.g. Number of employees and self-employed persons, Hours worked by employees); goods and services input (e.g. Purchases of goods and services); capital input (e.g. Gross investments).
Business services statistics (BS) collection contains harmonised statistics on business services. From 2008 onwards BS become part of the regular mandatory annual data collection of SBS. The BS’s data requirement includes variable “Turnover” broken down by products and by type of residence of client.
The annual regional statistics collection includes three characteristics due by NUTS-2 country region and detailed on NACE Rev 2division level (2-digits).
3.2. Classification system
Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community (NACE): NACE Rev.2 is used from 2008 onwards. Key data were double reported in NACE Rev.1.1 and NACE Rev.2 only for 2008. From 2002 to 2007 NACE Rev. 1.1 was used and until 2001 NACE Rev.1
Starting reference year 2021 onwards SBS cover the economic activities of market producers within the NACE Rev. 2 Sections B to N, P to R and Divisions S95 and S96. Until 2007 the SBS coverage was limited to Sections C to K of NACE Rev.1.1 and from the reference year 2008 to 2020 data was available for Sections B to N and Division S95 of NACE Rev.2. From 2013, as the first reference year, to 2020 information is published on NACE codes K6411, K6419 and K65 and its breakdown.
From 2008 reference year data collection BS covers NACE Rev 2 codes: J62, N78, J582, J631, M731, M691, M692, M702, M712, M732, M7111, and M7112.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
SBS constitutes an important and integrated part of the new European Business Statistics Regulation N° 2152/2019.
The statistical unit is the enterprise, defined as the smallest combination of legal units that is an organisational unit producing goods or services, which benefits from a certain degree of autonomy in decision making especially for the allocation of its current resources.
3.5.1. Treatment of complex enterprise
Data treatment
Sample frame based on enterprises
Yes
Surveying all legal units belonging to a complex enterprise
No
Surveying all legal units within the scope of SBS belonging to a complex enterprise
Yes
Surveying only representative units belonging to the complex enterprise
No
Other criteria used, please specify
Not Applicable
Comment
Large Cases unit deal with the enterprises with the largest influence on the Irish economy
3.5.2. Consolidation
Consolidation method
Consolidation carried out by the NSI
No
Consolidation carried out by responding enterprise/legal unit(s)
Yes
Other methods, please specify
Smaller enterprises do their own consolidation, if required the CSO helps enterprises consolidate their data
Comment
Large Cases unit deal with the enterprises with the largest influence on the Irish economy
3.6. Statistical population
All market enterprises in NACE sectors B-N, P-R and sector S excluding S94, across all employment sizeclasses.
The frame is received from the Business Register and is consistent with Business Demography.
Branches of foreign enterprises are included, if they represent separate entities in administrative sources.
Activities of branches of enterprises that are registered as separate companies abroad are excluded, however, activities of Irish-registered companies abroad are included.
3.7. Reference area
Ireland.
3.8. Coverage - Time
1998-2022 (Calendar Year)
The Building & Construction Inquiry (BCI), Annual Services Index (ASI) and Census of Industrial Production (CIP) underwent a significant methodological change from the 2008 reference year, following the availability and inclusion of Corporation and Income Tax data for non-responsive firms instead of grossing. This has led to improvements in accuracy and coherence with other data sources (e.g. National Accounts).
The BCI, following a review, underwent a methodologocial change which resulted in the use of the PAYE Modernisation dataset from the Irish Tax Authorities (Revenue Comissioners) to calculate labour costs. This change was implemented from reference year 2019 onwards.
Since 2021, the ASI statistical population includes “Market Producers” in Sectors P,Q,R and S (excluding S94).
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
• Number of enterprises and number of local units are expressed in units;
• Monetary data are expressed in millions of €;
• Employment variables are expressed in units;
• Per head values are expressed in thousands of € per head.
Ratios are expressed in percentages.
Reference year is 2022. Calendar year is used. Target and actual reference time periods are the same.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Starting with reference year 2021 two new regulations currently form the legal basis of SBS:
Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 repealing 10 legal acts in the field of business statistics (EBS Regulation), and
The Council Regulation No 58/97 has been amended three times: by Council Regulation No 410/98, Commission Regulation No 1614/2002 and European Parliament and Council Regulation No 2056/2002. As a new amendment of the basic Regulation it was decided to recast the Regulation No 58/97 in order to obtain a new "clean" legal text.
In 2008 the European Parliament and Council adopted Regulation No 295/2008 and the provisions of this Regulation were applicable from the reference year 2008 to reference year 2020. Regulation No 295/2008 was amended by Commission Regulation (EU) No 446/2014.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Not applicable.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Individual companies’ data are treated as strictly confidential under section 33 of the Statistics Act, 1993.
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 website.
Individual companies’ data are treated as strictly confidential under section 33 of the Statistics Act, 1993. Section 33 is outlined below.
"Prohibition on disclosure of information.
33. No information obtained in any way under this Act or the repealed enactments which can be related to an identifiable person or undertaking shall, except with the written consent of that person or undertaking or the personal representative or next-of-kin of a deceased person, be disseminated, shown or communicated to any person or body except as follows:
for the purposes of a prosecution for an offence under this Act;
to officers of statistics in the course of their duties under this Act;
for the purposes of recording such information solely for the use of the Office in such form and manner as is provided for by a contract in writing made by the Director General which protects its confidentiality to his satisfaction.
The Office may, for statistical purposes only, assign codes derived from information collected under this Act classifying undertakings listed in the administrative systems of other public authorities by economic activity and size (persons engaged) categories.
The Taoiseach may by order prescribe such further prohibitions on the disclosure of identifiable records or information obtained under this Act or the repealed enactments for such periods as may be prescribed.
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to require any person or undertaking to provide information in relation to a matter on which information was sought in circumstances that would entitle the person or undertaking to decline to give the information in a civil proceeding in any court or on grounds of privilege."
The level of breakdown is determined by making sure that the data in the resulting categories does not violate the confidentiality of the returns.
Individual companies’ data are treated as strictly confidential under the Statistics Act, 1993. The aggregates are published broken down by principal activity of the enterprise as well as by regions, turnover and employment size classes, nationality of ownership etc. The level of breakdown is determined by making sure that the data in the resulting categories does not violate the confidentiality of the returns. Eurostat k-rules are used, i.e. a cell is confidential, if 80+% of total comes from 1 company or 90+% comes from 2 companies. A cell is confidential if it contains less than 3 enterprises.
Secondary confidentiality is where a cell has to made confidential so that a primary confidential cell would not be identified.
7.2.1. Confidentiality processing
Data treatment
Confidentiality rules applied
Yes
Threshold of number of enterprises (Number)
3
Number of enterprises non confidential, if number of employments is confidential
Not Applicable
Dominance criteria applied
Yes
If dominance criteria applied specify the threshold (Number)
80%
Secondary confidentiality applied
Yes
Comment
If 2 or more enterprises comprise 90% of an aggregate that is made confidential.
The annual release calendar is availale to everyone on the CSO website.
8.3. Release policy - user access
Access is available to a limited set of registered main users within the CSO. Researchers from outside the CSO can apply for access to micro data through the Researcher Coordinators Unit. rcu@cso.ie
We also publish our “Business in Ireland” publication in Q4 which gives a detailed review of our SBS data. Main variables and breakdowns are available on PxStat for all users.
Any adhoc quests for data are released as long as confidentiality is maintained. Contact business_stats@cso.ie with any queries.
Annual.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
No News/ Press Release is created for SBS.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
The latest and previous SBS publications are available on the CSO website [EN].
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
2022 (and previous years) SBS Data is disseminated through the CSO's PX-Stat Portal.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
External researchers can apply for access to the Microdata through the Researcher Online System for Applications (ROSA). Applicants must be employed/ formally connected a research organisation registered with the CSO. Once the application has been approved and the researcher has completed the following they will be granted access to the microdata:
Acceptance the Terms and Conditions of the RMF Standard Agreement;
Acceptance of the Declaration of Secrecy under Section 21 of the Statistics Act, 1993;
Completion of the online training in ROSA which ensures awareness of the terms and conditions of the RMF Standard Agreement;
Appointment of an Officer of Statistics by the Director General of the Central Statistics Office under Section 20(c) of the Statistics Act, 1993.
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.
The CSO requires that all dissemination outputs undergo an annual self-assessment exercise to examine the quality of the processes used to generate statistics and the quality of the outputs themselves. The last iteration of this exercise showed that the survey would benefit from a larger sample size and steps have been taken to accommodate for this assessment. The main quality assurance activity for SBS is the data validation. A number of validation procedures, from data collection to data dissemination are performed:
Automatic checks - performed in the process of data entry;
Logical checks - data control of correctness of the suspicious size of the values or incompleteness of the data. Errors of this type are corrected through direct contacts with the enterprises;
Micro checks - at the level of enterprise. • Macro checks - at the level of NACE class (2/3/4-digit code);
Coherency checks – data checked with National Accounts and with other CSO publications e.g. Retail Sales Index, Monthly Services Index.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
The BCI, ASI and CIP are important indicators used both nationally and by the EU. They are required by the EU under Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 44/2013 concerning Structural Business Statistics.
Principle users at the national level include:
Government;
News Organisations;
Researchers;
Educational Organisations.
At the international level, the main user is Eurostat.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
CSO meets with customers (government and research community) once a year via an Economic Statistics Liaison Group (ESLG) to discuss our surveys and data during which we gauge user satisfaction and feedback.
12.3. Completeness
Data on all variables requested by Eurostat are collected and submitted.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
The administrative data sources used seem to be of satisfactory quality.
Admin sources of data
Irish Tax Revenue files including Employer Tax returns in relation to Employees, Corporate Tax returns and Income Tax returns (sole traders, etc.).
Other sources of data
Balance of Payments, Large Cases Unit, Survey data, Published Public accounts.
13.2. Sampling error
Sampling Error
The sample is manually checked for accuracy of names, addresses and NACE codes before posting. The enterprises deemed to be inactive, non-relevant or duplicates of other enterprises are removed from the survey and reported to Business Register for further actions.
Sampling error indicator
Not applicable, total data available for all variables.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Coverage error
The sample is taken from the CSO’s Central Business Register (CBR).
ASI Survey
All enterprises in the NACE Rev.2 sectors G, H, I, J, L, M and N, divisions 92, 93, 95 and 96 with at least 1 person engaged are covered. Since 2021 “Market Producer” enterprises in P and Q are included. Misclassification errors (wrong NACE code) are corrected manually and reported back to CBR. Over coverage rate: Not calculated. Common units – proportion: Not calculated.
Measurement error
Measurement errors are not formally calculated for the survey. However, all measures are taken to prevent their occurrence. All efforts are made to make the questionnaire form as clear as possible. Detailed Instructions on how to fill it in are also provided. A large number of queries are dealt with by phone or email on a day-to-day basis. Individual companies’ data are confidential under the Statistics Act, 1993, and can only be used for statistical purposes. All efforts are made to make this fact known to the respondents.
Non-Response Error
A breakdown of the response rate for 2022 is available for the ASI in the table below:
No. Forms issued
Responded
Usable
17,642
10,245
8288
100%
58.1%
47.0%
Unit non-response rate
In 2022 the coverage rate for Turnover was 62.0% therefore the turnover non response rate was 38.0%. The coverage rate for Gross Value Added was 43.1%.
Item non-response rate
Not calculated.
Processing error
All possible measures are taken to avoid processing errors, which may occur in scanning, data transfer and in the process of updating the data manually. A system of derived variables and edit rules are applied to identify possible processing errors. If present they are investigated by the DCU team to reduce their effect on the outcome significantly.
Model assumption error
The use of Administrative data to impute for a range of financial variables is making the assumption that certain enterprises financial structures are similar. This may not always be the case.
Non-sampling Error
Statistical inference using ratio estimators. Non-respondents are treated as not being selected; the final sample from which inference is made consists of respondents only. The sample is increased to the population size using Administrative data.
14.1. Timeliness
Provisional data should be sent to Eurostat in T+10 months, by the agreed deadline of the 31st of October to avoid revisions when the National account data is finalised. Provisional data is not published nationally. Under EU regulation, final data must be sent to Eurostat by T+18 months.
14.2. Punctuality
The final 2022 SBS data was submitted on time (T+18).
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Within Ireland, the same statistical concepts are applied across all geographical regions.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Building & Construction Inquiry
Comparisons are made with previous year’s data. Due to the use of comparable methodology, certain main variables from the BCI (Number of Employees, Wages and Salaries, Production Value, Intermediate Consumption and Gross Value Added) can be compared over time and with other European states on the Eurostat website.
Annual Services Inquiry
The 1995 inquiry was the first survey to use Business Register as the basis for the sampling frame, as previous inquiries were sampled and grossed with reference to the 1988 Census of Services register. The Business Register is continuously updated, and thus provides a more satisfactory approach to grossing than used previously. However, this change of registers, in addition to changes in classifications, means that the results of the 1995 and subsequent inquiries are not fully comparable with results from previous years. A more complex sampling/grossing methodology is used from 1999 ASI onwards; therefore, the outcome is not directly comparable to previous years. The introduction of the NACE Rev. 2 classification has led to some significant changes compared to the previously used NACE Rev. 1.1, such as the introduction of new sectors not surveyed before (e.g., veterinary services), the reclassification of some sectors from Industry to Services (e.g. publishing) and changes to the internal structure of the Distribution and Services sectors. As a consequence, the results from the reference year 2008 onwards are not directly comparable with earlier years. The introduction of the use of Administrative data in 2008 for non-response instead of grossing has increased the difficulties in comparing the series. The target population changed in 2008, due to change in methodology in Business Register. The Statistical population changed in 2021 with the addition of “Market Producers” in Sectors P & Q.
Census of Industrial Production
The Census of Industrial Production has been conducted since 1926 with data available from 1985 onwards. In terms of those local units whose activity is collection, purification and distribution of water, there was a change in the survey form in 2004. As well as increasing the number of respondents in this sector the changes to the form will result in a break in the series in relation to some of the derived variables, in particular net output. This is caused by a change in the calculation of this variable. In terms of historic data, CIP data relating to NACE Rev 1/1.1 is available from 1991 to 2007 while data relating to NACE 70 is available from 1979 – 1990. Due to the major change in the activity classification between NACE 70 and NACE Rev 1, comparisons are difficult over time but a concordance file between the two classifications is available which does allow for some comparison. NACE classification was subsequently changed in 2008. The target population also changed in 2008, due to changes in methodology in Business Register. A major revision of the 2008-2014 series was carried out previously. This new methodology was applied from 2015 reference period data onwards. This mean SBS data was much closer aligned to Business Demography data.
15.2.1. Time series
Time series
First reference year available (calendar year)
2008 - Building & Construction Inquiry
2008 - Census of Industrial Production
2008 - Annual Services Inquiry
Calendar year(s) of break in time series
2019 - Building & Construction Inquiry
Reason(s) for the break(s)
BCI - Availability of wages administration data provided us with key data for non-respondents and those not selected for sampling, thus increasing the accuracy of our data.
Length of comparable time series (from calendar year to calendar year)
BCI: 2019-2022
CIP: 2015-2022
ASI: 2015-2022
Comment
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Building & Construction Inquiry
A major revision of the 2008-2014 series was carried out previously. This new methodology was applied from 2015 reference period data onwards. This mean SBS data was much closer aligned to Business Demography data.
Coherence – Sub annual and annual statistics Construction data is compared with quarterly construction data and planning permissions.
Coherence with National Accounts Prior to aggregation the data is thoroughly checked for consistency with National Accounts and Balance of Payments sections of the CSO. Any major discrepancies are discussed and resolved.
Annual Services Inquiry
A major revision of the 2008-2014 series was carried out previously. This new methodology was applied from 2015 reference period data onwards. This mean SBS data was much closer aligned to Business Demography data.
Coherence – Sub annual and annual statistics Services data is compared with monthly Retail Trade and Services data.
Coherence with National Accounts Prior to aggregation the data is thoroughly checked for consistency with National Accounts.
Census of industrial Production
Consistency checks are done with Monthly Industrial Production, PRODCOM, Quarterly Accounts Inquiry to Industry (QAII) and Balance of Payments and Corporation Tax data. These checks primarily apply to the larger enterprises. Where there are inconsistencies, these cases are investigated by all parties and a common treatment agreed. CIP data is compared against PRODCOM, annualised monthly industrial production inquiry. All SBS data is compared with National Income and Expenditure data.
Coherence – Sub annual and annual statistics Comparisons are done with:
• Quarterly Accounts Inquiry to Industry data;
• Monthly Industrial Production data (at local unit level).
Coherence with National Accounts All CIP data is compared with National Income and Expenditure data.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Data for the largest 70 or so companies in Ireland are collected by LCU (Large Cases Unit) and passed to each survey area as required this ensures great coherence in the associated NACE sectors. SBS data is checked against Tax data and National accounts data to improve coherence.
Published statistics are subject to correction and revision for a variety of reasons. The most common reasons include the receipt of additional information (for example, late survey responses) and updated seasonal factors. Occasional revisions also occur as a result of changes to definitions, methodology, classifications and general updating of statistical series. It is recognised internationally that the existence of a sound revisions policy maintains credibility in official statistics. The CSO General Revisions Policy, which details how revisions should be managed and communicated to users, outlines the three main types of revisions:
Planned Routine Revisions;
Planned Major Revisions;
Unplanned Revisions.
One reason for unplanned revisions occurring can be when errors are detected after publication.
The ‘CSO Error Correction Policy – How to deal with Publication Errors’ outlines the steps taken when these errors are detected. As required under Principle 6.3 of the European Statistics Code of Practice, errors detected in published statistics are corrected at the earliest possible date and users are informed. An important step in the process is the documentation and analysis of errors that have occurred and their causes. This allows the CSO to take measures preventing similar errors from occurring in the future and uniformity in dealing with them when they do. The data revision policy that CSO statistics adheres to can be found via the CSO's website (Treatment of Revisions).
17.2. Data revision - practice
A major revision of the 2008-2014 series was carried out in 2015 and 2016. The new methodology was to use matched sample based on units that have responded to both in 2016. A revision of the 2019-2021 series is currently being carried out following on from Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 coming into force and is due to be delivered by the end of Spetember 2024. If an error or new data becomes available which will affect any major variable at division level by 5% a revision will be made and published. Users will be made aware of the revision by inserting a grey box outlying the revision and or a footnote in PxStat. The revised data would be sent to Eurostat.
18.1. Source data
Annual Services Inquiry
Enterprises’ returns on the issued survey forms are the primary data source for units with 2 and more persons engaged. Administrative (Tax) data sources are used for imputation for enterprises with for nonsurveyed or non-responding enterprises. The survey covers all enterprises with 1 or more persons engaged in retail, wholesale, transportation and storage, accommodation and food, information and communication, real estate, professional, scientific, technical, administrative and other selected services sectors (NACE Rev.2 sectors G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, divisions 92, 93, 95 and 96). Since 2021 “Market Producers” of sectors P and Q are included. Since 1995 the CSO’s Central Business Register provides the sampling frame, from which the Annual Service Inquiry sample is selected each year. The ASI is designed to provide estimates of the principal trading aggregates for all enterprises in the relevant sectors. The 'enterprise' is the unit used for survey purposes i.e. one return is sought in respect of each enterprise covering all constituent branches, local units or subsidiaries. The survey sample consists of the census of enterprises with 50+ employees plus a random sample of the smaller units with 2 to 49 persons engaged, stratified by activity (NACE Rev.2) and employment size class. The employment size classes and approximate sampling rates are shown in the table below:
Persons Engaged
Sampling Rate
2-9
1/25
10-49
1/2.5
Survey size 17,642. Letters inviting enterprises to fill out the eQ are printed in the CSO’s printing section and are usually posted to the enterprises at the end of April. Three reminders to non-respondents are sent in June, September and November by post.
Building & Construction Inquiry
The BCI is made up of a census of construction enterprises that employ 10 or more and a random sample of the smaller units stratified by activity (NACE Revision 2) and employment size. The survey is aggregated and published at 3-digit NACE level, classified according to NACE Rev 2, divisions 41 - 43. Results are grossed for non-response. Approximately 4,500 enterprises classified in NACE Rev 2, divisions 41 – 43 (all building and construction) are surveyed. The Business Register provides the sampling frame from which the enterprises to be surveyed are drawn. The survey sample consists of the census of enterprises with 10+ employees plus a random sample of the smaller units stratified by activity (NACE Rev 2) and employment size class. In 2022 there were approximately 69,000 enterprises known to the CSO to have been engaged in construction activity of which approx. 4,500 enterprises were surveyed. Survey forms are returned electronically and are transferred to the CSO’s Data Management System (DMS) where it can be viewed and amended as required. SAS programs are used for the transfer and management of the survey. Postal reminders, emails, telephone calls are used to seek the return of forms from non-respondents.
Census of Industrial Production
The CIP is generated based on a combination of survey responses and administrative data. The principal variables collected are: turnover, exports, purchases, fuel, additions to capital assets, sales of capital assets, indirect taxes, employment, earnings, other labour costs. The sampling frame/register is the CSO’s Central Business Register. Every March a file is taken from the business register containing the relevant enterprise/local units and this file is uploaded into the processing system. A permanent up-to-date register is kept of all local units and enterprises known to be involved in industrial production. The register is maintained from the CSO Central Business Register, administrative and public utility records, announcements in the press, business journals, field personnel contacts, etc. The survey population is made up of all industrial enterprises/local units coded to NACE section B, (Mining and Quarrying) NACE Section C (Manufacturing), NACE Section D (Electricity, Gas, Steam and Air conditioning supply) and NACE Section E (Water supply, Sewerage, Waste management and Remediation activities). Surveys are issued to all industrial enterprises employing 3+ persons. Administrative data is used for industrial enterprises with less than 3 persons engaged and also used for enterprises who received a survey form but failed to respond. Not applicable as survey is a census. The frame size for the 2022 CIP was 20,337 enterprises. The census size given criteria resulted in 4,299 of which 1,800 were estimated using administrative data. The Census of Industrial Production is primarily collected via a web questionnaire, but it also has a postal survey option. Web questionnaires account for approx. 80% of returns. The survey forms are printed in the Printing section of the CSO and posted out to respondents for self-completion. Forms are sent out in batches, typically from May onwards each year. Respondents are sent a number of reminders throughout the year, encouraging them to complete the forms in a timely manner.
18.1.1. Data sources overview
Data sources overview
Survey data
Yes
VAT data
No
Tax data
Yes
Financial statements
Yes
Other sources, please specify
Short-Term Statistics Surveys for editing, verification and coherence purposes.
Comment
Online financial statements are used for editing, verification and coherence purposes.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Annual data collection.
18.3. Data collection
Survey forms are returned electronically and are transferred to the CSO’s Data Management System (DMS) where it can be viewed and amended ad required. SAS programs are used for the transfer and management of the survey. Postal reminders, emails, telephone calls are used to seek the return of forms from non respondents.
Building & Construction Inquiry
There are two types of questionnaires used in the BCI and sent to all enterprises whose activity is primarily construction. The type of ‘enterprise’ questionnaire depends on the size of the enterprise.
• The most detailed form (Form L) is generally sent to all enterprises with twenty or more persons engaged. • A less detailed form (Form S) is sent to enterprises with between zero and nineteen persons engaged. Individual forms and instructions on how to complete same are available on the CSO website. This is a statutory enquiry and therefore participation is compulsory under S.I. No.268/2022. Data is collected at firm level from enterprises whose main activity is construction of buildings, civil engineering or specialised construction activities. These firms are classified to Divisions 41 – 43 of the NACE Industrial Classification of Economic Activity in the European communities (NACE Rev 2). The survey is made up of a census of construction enterprises that employ 10 or more and a random sample of the smaller units stratified.
Annual Services Inquiry
The ASI is conducted via electronic questionnaire, enterprises are sent the website address by post and a personal pin for completion online. The Annual Services questionnaire requests the data on Turnover, Stocks, Capital Assets, Personnel Costs, Purchases, Employment, including detailed breakdowns. A copy of the questionnaires used can be viewed on the CSO home page (Annual service inquiry). Annual Services Inquiry is a compulsory survey. Data are collected from enterprises via electronic questionnaire (eQ ).
Census of Industrial Production
An ‘enterprise’ electronic questionnaire (eQ) is sent to all enterprises whose activity is primarily industrial. The type of ‘enterprise’ questionnaire depends on the size of the enterprise. The most detailed form (form F) is generally sent to all enterprises with twenty or more persons engaged. A less detailed form (Form C) is sent to enterprises with between three and twenty persons engaged. Enterprises with less than 3 persons engaged are not sent a survey form but rather administrative data is used in conjunction with ratio extensions to estimate a return for such enterprises. In the case of multi-location enterprises, a ‘Local Unit’ questionnaire is sent to each local unit with three or more persons engaged which was in production during the year. Census questionnaire links are issued in May of the year following the Census reference year. All forms are available on the CSO website via the CSO website (Census of industrial production enterprises).
Survey Participation
This is a statutory enquiry and therefore participation is compulsory. Once data is returned it receives a receipt date and is scrutinised. The postal survey forms are scanned and verified using Teleforms software. This data and the web forms data is then transferred to the inhouse IT system (DMS). A copy of the scanned image is stored on the network, for postal forms. Edits are run after the data is scanned/transferred and any issues or discrepancies that arise with the data are checked and corrected where necessary. From 2003 onwards, C forms (2 page questionnaire – sent to enterprises employing less than 20) were scanned, verified and data captured while from 2005 onwards F forms (eight page questionnaire – sent to enterprises employing 20 or more) were scanned, verified and data captured. The CSO's Large Cases Unit liaises with approximately fifty large industrial enterprises to ensure that the information received from these companies is as accurate as possible.
18.4. Data validation
Edits are run on the scanned data and any required changes are made to the data. The IT tools employed are:
The CSO in house computer system – Data Management System (DMS);
also bought in systems: SAS, Microsoft Excel and PCAxis.
Edit checks are run for each firm to compare figures against previous year’s data using SAS programs. Consistency checks are run, and any edits raised are followed up with the enterprise where necessary. Edits are also run to check that the sum of components that make up a total is correct for that variable. Where unusually low or high values for a variable are displayed, a first check is done to see if it is a scanning/verification error. If so, it is corrected, if not, a query is sent to the enterprise for resolution. Other checks include range checks. The majority of edit check consist of:
Year-on-year comparisons for key variables;
Consistency checks, e.g. sum of parts against the total;
Plausibility checks, e.g. profit to turnover ratio too high/low;
Compared with other survey returns for coherence. We also use other CSO collected data from Short Term Statistics and National Accounts to validate data returns. Tax returns are also used for plausibility checks.
18.5. Data compilation
BCI
The dataset is created from the Business Register. All enterprises in NACE Section F i.e. divisions 41 – 43 are included. Results are aggregated and published at 3-digit NACE level. The original series was aggregated using grossing factors. This method has been revised in the new series. Instead of grossing to a total population the use of administrative (tax) data is used instead. For every non-respondent or non- surveyed enterprise, a survey return is created using tax information. The primary financial value the survey uses is profit/loss data with estimates for labour costs added to arrive at a value for GVA. This is derived from the administrative data. Other financial variables normally received from the survey form are estimated using actual survey returns as the data is not available from the administrative data. This is done using ratio-estimators. A basic example of the concept would be the ratio of turnover to GVA. If for a particular NACE the ratio of turnover to GVA is 4:1, we would simply multiply the derived administrative GVA by 4 to give us a turnover value.
ASI
The original series was aggregated using grossing factors. This method has been revised in the new series. Instead of grossing to a total population administrative (tax) data is used instead. For every non-respondent or non- surveyed enterprise, a survey return is created using tax information. The primary financial value the survey uses is profit/loss data with estimates for labour costs added to arrive at a value for GVA. Where possible labour costs for non-response were taken from revenue data also to reduce the estimation. This is derived from the administrative data. Other financial variables normally received from the survey form are estimated using actual survey returns as the data is not available from the administrative data. This is done using ratio-estimators. A basic example of the concept would be the ratio of turnover to GVA. If for a particular NACE the ratio of turnover to GVA is 4:1, we would simply multiply the derived administrative GVA by 4 to give us a turnover value. Outputs are computed using ratio estimator with Number of Persons Engaged as an auxiliary parameter.
CIP
The statistical units in the Census (local unit and enterprise) are coded to the NACE class relating to their principal industrial activity during the Census year. In the case of local units, this is determined on the basis of detailed information provided on their production of industrial products. The activity classification of enterprises is based on the NACE codes of the constituent local units. An enterprise that operates several industrial local units coded to different NACE classes is classified to the activity which accounts for the highest proportion of the total value added to the enterprise. The CSO’s Central Business Register is used to activity code the enterprises. After estimation, imputation and ratio extension procedures have been run; results are aggregated for enterprises and local units. In the publication, there are a number of derived variables published. Results are aggregated to 2, 3 and 4 digit NACE at national level depending on the confidentiality of the data; results are generated by way of SAS procedures. In the case of the final publication, estimation is used for key enterprises who have not responded to the survey, estimation is based on returns to other surveys such as PRODCOM and Monthly Industrial Production etc. Administrative data sources and ratio extensions are used for other non-respondents.
18.6. Adjustment
Not Applicable.
No further comments.
Structural business statistics (SBS) describes the structure, conduct and performance of economic activities, down to the most detailed activity level (several hundred economic sectors). SBS covers all activities of the business economy with the exception of agricultural activities, public administration and (largely) non-market services such as education and health. Main characteristics (variables) of the SBS data category:
• "Business demographic" variables (e.g. Number of active enterprises);
• "Output related" variables (e.g. Net turnover, Value added);
• "Input related" variables: labour input (e.g. Number of employees and self-employed persons, Hours worked by employees); goods and services input (e.g. Purchases of goods and services); capital input (e.g. Gross investments).
Business services statistics (BS) collection contains harmonised statistics on business services. From 2008 onwards BS become part of the regular mandatory annual data collection of SBS. The BS’s data requirement includes variable “Turnover” broken down by products and by type of residence of client.
The annual regional statistics collection includes three characteristics due by NUTS-2 country region and detailed on NACE Rev 2division level (2-digits).
6 September 2024
SBS constitutes an important and integrated part of the new European Business Statistics Regulation N° 2152/2019.
The statistical unit is the enterprise, defined as the smallest combination of legal units that is an organisational unit producing goods or services, which benefits from a certain degree of autonomy in decision making especially for the allocation of its current resources.
All market enterprises in NACE sectors B-N, P-R and sector S excluding S94, across all employment sizeclasses.
The frame is received from the Business Register and is consistent with Business Demography.
Branches of foreign enterprises are included, if they represent separate entities in administrative sources.
Activities of branches of enterprises that are registered as separate companies abroad are excluded, however, activities of Irish-registered companies abroad are included.
Ireland.
Reference year is 2022. Calendar year is used. Target and actual reference time periods are the same.
The administrative data sources used seem to be of satisfactory quality.
Admin sources of data
Irish Tax Revenue files including Employer Tax returns in relation to Employees, Corporate Tax returns and Income Tax returns (sole traders, etc.).
Other sources of data
Balance of Payments, Large Cases Unit, Survey data, Published Public accounts.
• Number of enterprises and number of local units are expressed in units;
• Monetary data are expressed in millions of €;
• Employment variables are expressed in units;
• Per head values are expressed in thousands of € per head.
Ratios are expressed in percentages.
BCI
The dataset is created from the Business Register. All enterprises in NACE Section F i.e. divisions 41 – 43 are included. Results are aggregated and published at 3-digit NACE level. The original series was aggregated using grossing factors. This method has been revised in the new series. Instead of grossing to a total population the use of administrative (tax) data is used instead. For every non-respondent or non- surveyed enterprise, a survey return is created using tax information. The primary financial value the survey uses is profit/loss data with estimates for labour costs added to arrive at a value for GVA. This is derived from the administrative data. Other financial variables normally received from the survey form are estimated using actual survey returns as the data is not available from the administrative data. This is done using ratio-estimators. A basic example of the concept would be the ratio of turnover to GVA. If for a particular NACE the ratio of turnover to GVA is 4:1, we would simply multiply the derived administrative GVA by 4 to give us a turnover value.
ASI
The original series was aggregated using grossing factors. This method has been revised in the new series. Instead of grossing to a total population administrative (tax) data is used instead. For every non-respondent or non- surveyed enterprise, a survey return is created using tax information. The primary financial value the survey uses is profit/loss data with estimates for labour costs added to arrive at a value for GVA. Where possible labour costs for non-response were taken from revenue data also to reduce the estimation. This is derived from the administrative data. Other financial variables normally received from the survey form are estimated using actual survey returns as the data is not available from the administrative data. This is done using ratio-estimators. A basic example of the concept would be the ratio of turnover to GVA. If for a particular NACE the ratio of turnover to GVA is 4:1, we would simply multiply the derived administrative GVA by 4 to give us a turnover value. Outputs are computed using ratio estimator with Number of Persons Engaged as an auxiliary parameter.
CIP
The statistical units in the Census (local unit and enterprise) are coded to the NACE class relating to their principal industrial activity during the Census year. In the case of local units, this is determined on the basis of detailed information provided on their production of industrial products. The activity classification of enterprises is based on the NACE codes of the constituent local units. An enterprise that operates several industrial local units coded to different NACE classes is classified to the activity which accounts for the highest proportion of the total value added to the enterprise. The CSO’s Central Business Register is used to activity code the enterprises. After estimation, imputation and ratio extension procedures have been run; results are aggregated for enterprises and local units. In the publication, there are a number of derived variables published. Results are aggregated to 2, 3 and 4 digit NACE at national level depending on the confidentiality of the data; results are generated by way of SAS procedures. In the case of the final publication, estimation is used for key enterprises who have not responded to the survey, estimation is based on returns to other surveys such as PRODCOM and Monthly Industrial Production etc. Administrative data sources and ratio extensions are used for other non-respondents.
Annual Services Inquiry
Enterprises’ returns on the issued survey forms are the primary data source for units with 2 and more persons engaged. Administrative (Tax) data sources are used for imputation for enterprises with for nonsurveyed or non-responding enterprises. The survey covers all enterprises with 1 or more persons engaged in retail, wholesale, transportation and storage, accommodation and food, information and communication, real estate, professional, scientific, technical, administrative and other selected services sectors (NACE Rev.2 sectors G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, divisions 92, 93, 95 and 96). Since 2021 “Market Producers” of sectors P and Q are included. Since 1995 the CSO’s Central Business Register provides the sampling frame, from which the Annual Service Inquiry sample is selected each year. The ASI is designed to provide estimates of the principal trading aggregates for all enterprises in the relevant sectors. The 'enterprise' is the unit used for survey purposes i.e. one return is sought in respect of each enterprise covering all constituent branches, local units or subsidiaries. The survey sample consists of the census of enterprises with 50+ employees plus a random sample of the smaller units with 2 to 49 persons engaged, stratified by activity (NACE Rev.2) and employment size class. The employment size classes and approximate sampling rates are shown in the table below:
Persons Engaged
Sampling Rate
2-9
1/25
10-49
1/2.5
Survey size 17,642. Letters inviting enterprises to fill out the eQ are printed in the CSO’s printing section and are usually posted to the enterprises at the end of April. Three reminders to non-respondents are sent in June, September and November by post.
Building & Construction Inquiry
The BCI is made up of a census of construction enterprises that employ 10 or more and a random sample of the smaller units stratified by activity (NACE Revision 2) and employment size. The survey is aggregated and published at 3-digit NACE level, classified according to NACE Rev 2, divisions 41 - 43. Results are grossed for non-response. Approximately 4,500 enterprises classified in NACE Rev 2, divisions 41 – 43 (all building and construction) are surveyed. The Business Register provides the sampling frame from which the enterprises to be surveyed are drawn. The survey sample consists of the census of enterprises with 10+ employees plus a random sample of the smaller units stratified by activity (NACE Rev 2) and employment size class. In 2022 there were approximately 69,000 enterprises known to the CSO to have been engaged in construction activity of which approx. 4,500 enterprises were surveyed. Survey forms are returned electronically and are transferred to the CSO’s Data Management System (DMS) where it can be viewed and amended as required. SAS programs are used for the transfer and management of the survey. Postal reminders, emails, telephone calls are used to seek the return of forms from non-respondents.
Census of Industrial Production
The CIP is generated based on a combination of survey responses and administrative data. The principal variables collected are: turnover, exports, purchases, fuel, additions to capital assets, sales of capital assets, indirect taxes, employment, earnings, other labour costs. The sampling frame/register is the CSO’s Central Business Register. Every March a file is taken from the business register containing the relevant enterprise/local units and this file is uploaded into the processing system. A permanent up-to-date register is kept of all local units and enterprises known to be involved in industrial production. The register is maintained from the CSO Central Business Register, administrative and public utility records, announcements in the press, business journals, field personnel contacts, etc. The survey population is made up of all industrial enterprises/local units coded to NACE section B, (Mining and Quarrying) NACE Section C (Manufacturing), NACE Section D (Electricity, Gas, Steam and Air conditioning supply) and NACE Section E (Water supply, Sewerage, Waste management and Remediation activities). Surveys are issued to all industrial enterprises employing 3+ persons. Administrative data is used for industrial enterprises with less than 3 persons engaged and also used for enterprises who received a survey form but failed to respond. Not applicable as survey is a census. The frame size for the 2022 CIP was 20,337 enterprises. The census size given criteria resulted in 4,299 of which 1,800 were estimated using administrative data. The Census of Industrial Production is primarily collected via a web questionnaire, but it also has a postal survey option. Web questionnaires account for approx. 80% of returns. The survey forms are printed in the Printing section of the CSO and posted out to respondents for self-completion. Forms are sent out in batches, typically from May onwards each year. Respondents are sent a number of reminders throughout the year, encouraging them to complete the forms in a timely manner.
Annual.
Provisional data should be sent to Eurostat in T+10 months, by the agreed deadline of the 31st of October to avoid revisions when the National account data is finalised. Provisional data is not published nationally. Under EU regulation, final data must be sent to Eurostat by T+18 months.
Within Ireland, the same statistical concepts are applied across all geographical regions.
Building & Construction Inquiry
Comparisons are made with previous year’s data. Due to the use of comparable methodology, certain main variables from the BCI (Number of Employees, Wages and Salaries, Production Value, Intermediate Consumption and Gross Value Added) can be compared over time and with other European states on the Eurostat website.
Annual Services Inquiry
The 1995 inquiry was the first survey to use Business Register as the basis for the sampling frame, as previous inquiries were sampled and grossed with reference to the 1988 Census of Services register. The Business Register is continuously updated, and thus provides a more satisfactory approach to grossing than used previously. However, this change of registers, in addition to changes in classifications, means that the results of the 1995 and subsequent inquiries are not fully comparable with results from previous years. A more complex sampling/grossing methodology is used from 1999 ASI onwards; therefore, the outcome is not directly comparable to previous years. The introduction of the NACE Rev. 2 classification has led to some significant changes compared to the previously used NACE Rev. 1.1, such as the introduction of new sectors not surveyed before (e.g., veterinary services), the reclassification of some sectors from Industry to Services (e.g. publishing) and changes to the internal structure of the Distribution and Services sectors. As a consequence, the results from the reference year 2008 onwards are not directly comparable with earlier years. The introduction of the use of Administrative data in 2008 for non-response instead of grossing has increased the difficulties in comparing the series. The target population changed in 2008, due to change in methodology in Business Register. The Statistical population changed in 2021 with the addition of “Market Producers” in Sectors P & Q.
Census of Industrial Production
The Census of Industrial Production has been conducted since 1926 with data available from 1985 onwards. In terms of those local units whose activity is collection, purification and distribution of water, there was a change in the survey form in 2004. As well as increasing the number of respondents in this sector the changes to the form will result in a break in the series in relation to some of the derived variables, in particular net output. This is caused by a change in the calculation of this variable. In terms of historic data, CIP data relating to NACE Rev 1/1.1 is available from 1991 to 2007 while data relating to NACE 70 is available from 1979 – 1990. Due to the major change in the activity classification between NACE 70 and NACE Rev 1, comparisons are difficult over time but a concordance file between the two classifications is available which does allow for some comparison. NACE classification was subsequently changed in 2008. The target population also changed in 2008, due to changes in methodology in Business Register. A major revision of the 2008-2014 series was carried out previously. This new methodology was applied from 2015 reference period data onwards. This mean SBS data was much closer aligned to Business Demography data.
