Quality Commitment for EPA Statistics

Published 04 December 2024.

Definition

This quality statement refers to EPA statistics. This is a subset of all EPA data: statistics have the following characteristics:

• Collected for a national or European legislative or official remit
• Updated at regular intervals
• In the public domain

Planned EPA statistical releases are pre-announced on the EPA Release Calendar.

Independence of the EPA

The legal basis for independence of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is established under the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992. This legislation guarantees the EPA’s professional independence from other parts of government and from the private sector. EPA statistics are compiled based on the best available scientific and statistical methods, independent from political considerations and those of other vested interests.

Accessibility and Timeliness

The EPA aims to produce and disseminate its statistics in a clear, accessible and timely manner. Statistical releases are accompanied by documentation describing the methods used and any key decisions made in compilation which could impact the results. Publication dates of EPA statistics are pre-announced on the EPA Release Calendar. 

Meeting User Needs

In line with the EPA Customer Charter, the EPA routinely seeks feedback from our end-users and stakeholders. This feedback is used to improve how we deliver national and European statistics.   

Management of Resources

The EPA’s Corporate Governance Framework ensures that the EPA uses its resources effectively to carry out its functions, including the accurate and timely production of statistics.

European Statistics Code of Practice

The EPA subscribes to the European Statistics Code of Practice in the production of national and European statistics. The Code of Practice sets the standards for developing, producing and disseminating European statistics. It defines 16 key Principles to ensure public trust and confidence in statistics produced by public bodies (see Table 1). In subscribing to these principles, the EPA demonstrates its commitment to producing statistics in accordance with best international statistical practice. 

The EPA is currently undertaking an ESCoP accreditation programme for its statistical products. This process involves reviewing statistical methods and compiling and standardising documentation. The process is overseen by the Central Statistics Office. The EPA Release Calendar includes statistical products which have already been granted ESCoP accreditation and those in the accreditation process: