Dear Philip  

We have completed our assessment of Public Transport Statistics Northern Ireland produced by the Department for Infrastructure (Dfl), NI. I am grateful for the positive contribution and engagement from your team throughout the assessment process. 

Our assessment found strong collaboration between DfI’s Analysis, Statistics and Research Branch (ASRB) and Translink (the data provider) and that users trust the quality of the statistics. We have identified two requirements to help strengthen the statistics further, to ensure that they fulfil the expectations of the Code of Practice for Statistics. These focus on improving ease of access to the statistics for users on DfI’s website and adding further context to the statistical report to strengthen the narrative and enhance the value of the statistics for users. 

We judge that Public Transport Statistics Northern Ireland can be designated as accredited official statistics once we have confirmed that the requirements set out in the report have been met. Addressing the requirements will demonstrate that your statistics meet the highest standards of trustworthiness, quality and public value and comply with the Code.  

I am copying this letter to Regina McGeown, DfI Senior Statistician; Ruth Fulton and Norma Broomfield, NISRA Statistical Support Branch.
 

Yours sincerely  

Ed Humpherson
Director General for OSR