Beyond the dashboard: How open data powers public services across
Europe
Publication Date/Time
2025-06-06T11:00:00+00:00
Country
Global
From budget transparency in Ireland to liveability in the Netherlands,
discover how open datasets create value for citizens and society
Throughout Europe, public institutions are putting open data into
practice to better serve citizens. Such initiatives show how open data
can support modern governance by enabling citizen engagement, building
trust and driving service innovation. They also demonstrate that the
value of open data extends beyond its original purpose, fuelling
collaboration, new insights and more responsive public services.

 

This data story explores three examples of how open data is powering
better public services across Europe: budget transparency in Ireland,
environmental monitoring of drinking water in Switzerland and
liveability mapping in the Netherlands.

 

IRELAND – WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES

Transparency in public spending has become a national priority in
Ireland, as outlined in the Member State’s public spending code
[https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://assets.gov.ie/20041/e8edcfee69f84876990fa6ebf4bed13f.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjf1frT26eMAxVAhf0HHeHsM34QFnoECBEQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0PJJ9fOgOW6VIWK0tHBDdI],
the framework for evaluating, planning and managing public spending.
In line with this commitment, the Irish government launched the open
data initiative called where your money goes
[https://whereyourmoneygoes.gov.ie/en/]. This initiative provides an
interactive dashboard that visualises how public funds are allocated
across departments such as health, education and housing.

Here, we explore the underlying dataset
[https://data.europa.eu/data/datasets/e56978cc-2421-4769-aba3-ef66a2f5849f?locale=en] that
shows government spending across sectors from 1994 to 2022 to analyse
historical shifts (FIGURE 1). These visualisations show how Ireland
has undergone changes in its spending priorities over the past three
decades.

In 1994, the largest portions of the budget went to the Department
of Justice (11.7 %), the Department of Education and Youth (9.8 %)
and the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (9 %).
By 2001, there was a rise in funding for the Department of Tourism,
Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, which increased from below
5 % to around 7 %, and the Department of the Environment, Climate
and Communications, which climbed from 5 % to 8 %.

A significant shift occurred in 2008, amid the financial crisis, when
funding for the Department of Justice surged to 17 %, and the
Department of Health spending rose steadily – from just 3.0 % in
2001 to 10.7 % by 2008. In 2015, funding for the newly introduced
Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform reached
13.9 %, while the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht,
Sport and Media rebounded from a post-2008 dip to account for 10.6 %
of public expenditure. Most recently, by 2022 the Department of
Housing, Local Government and Heritage had become a key area of
spending, representing 11.1 % of net expenditure, while the
Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform maintained
a high share at 10.3 %. This analysis illustrates how open data can
help uncover long-term trends in policy shifts and reveal how
government priorities have evolved over time. View the dashboard
[https://whereyourmoneygoes.gov.ie/en/] or explore the dataset to
discover more cross-sectoral comparisons and possible reuse
opportunities regarding public spending data.
[https://data.europa.eu/sites/default/files/img/media/20250602_Ireland_4b.png]
FIGURE 1: HOW DID IRELAND’S PUBLIC EXPENDITURE EVOLVE OVER THE LAST
30 YEARS?

_SOURCE:_ DATA.EUROPA.EU
[https://data.europa.eu/data/datasets/e56978cc-2421-4769-aba3-ef66a2f5849f?locale=en] AND
THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC EXPENDITURE, NDP DELIVERY AND REFORM
[https://databank.per.gov.ie/Expenditure.aspx].

 

SWITZERLAND – SAFEGUARDING WATER QUALITY WITH OPEN DATA

Open data also plays a vital role in ensuring the quality of essential
services. In Switzerland, one such case is the monitoring of drinking
water quality using publicly available data. Specifically, the canton
of Zürich has developed the Züri Trinkwasser Map
[https://www.zh.ch/de/gesundheit/lebensmittel-gebrauchsgegenstaende/lebensmittel/trinkwasser.html],
an initiative that visualises water quality across the region based on
openly accessible environmental monitoring data. This tool gives
residents insight into the safety and composition of their drinking
water, while also helping authorities comply with public health and
environmental regulations.

 

FIGURE 2 explores the open dataset behind this interactive map,
focusing on trends in key indicators between 2020 and 2024. The
dataset includes measurements of a wide range of substances that
impact water quality. Among the indicators, nitrate levels and water
hardness remained largely stable. Most other substances also fell
within safe limits. However, two exceptions stand out: chlorothalonil
R471811, a pesticide residue, and trifluoroacetic acid, an industrial
by-product.

For chlorothalonil R471811, the share of samples showing elevated
levels rose from around 30 % in 2020 to nearly 50 % in 2021, before
declining to 25 % by 2024. Trifluoroacetic acid, which has been
monitored since 2021, presents a more complex picture: fewer than
20 % of samples were rated ‘very good’, most fell into the
‘OK’ range and around 20 % approached critical levels – a
proportion that has gradually increased over time.

This analysis shows how open data can support the early detection of
potential risks and timely policy interventions. Explore the map
[https://www.zh.ch/de/gesundheit/lebensmittel-gebrauchsgegenstaende/lebensmittel/trinkwasser.html]
or analyse the dataset to uncover more about how drinkable the water
is in Zürich.
[https://data.europa.eu/sites/default/files/img/media/20250602_Zurich_1a.png]
FIGURE 2: KEY WATER QUALITY INDICATORS IN ZÜRICH

_SOURCE:_ DATA.EUROPA.EU
[https://data.europa.eu/data/datasets/f1ee5e5e-f0f1-446a-8daa-0ac2e9a80e92-stadt-zurich?locale=nl] AND THE CITY
OF ZÜRICH
[https://data.stadt-zuerich.ch/dataset/dib_wvz_trinkwasserqualitaet].

 

THE NETHERLANDS – MEASURING WHAT MAKES CITIES LIVEABLE

What makes a city a good place to live? In the Netherlands, open data
is helping policymakers – and the public – explore this
question. Through its Leefbaarometer
[https://www.leefbaarometer.nl/home.php] (liveability barometer), the
Dutch government collects and shares data on key factors that
influence quality of life, such as housing, environment and safety.
This information is combined into a national map that provides an
overview of the liveability of different areas of the Netherlands.

 

FIGURE 3 presents an analysis based on the Leefbaarometer data,
examining long-term developments across the Member State. The analysis
groups liveability changes by their intensity to define categories,
allowing us to explore what kind of changes are being experienced and
by how many people.

 

The data shows that overall liveability improved for nearly all
(93.9 %) Dutch citizens between 2014 and 2022. However, looking at
individual dimensions reveals a more nuanced picture. For 69.5 % of
citizens, the physical environment improved during this period. This
includes objective indicators such as green space, noise levels and
air quality. The degree of improvement varied, with the largest share
of inhabitants reporting small increases (29.5 %), followed by medium
to moderate increases (23.4 %).

 

A similar trend is seen in the areas of nuisance and safety, where
77.7 % of citizens experienced positive changes, based on indicators
such as reduced crime rates and enhanced traffic safety. The largest
share of inhabitants reported a very significant increase (29.9 %) in
the liveability score in this area, followed by a large increase
(21.9 %).

 

In contrast, the social cohesion dimension declined for most Dutch
citizens (72.6 %). This dimension includes indicators such as
residential stability and neighbourhood connectedness. Around half of
people (49.6 %) experienced a small decrease in the liveability
score in this area. Meanwhile, access to facilities and services as
well as the quality of housing stock improved for a large majority
of inhabitants – 84.6 % and 96.9 %, respectively – with most
inhabitants scoring in the higher improvement brackets.

 

By breaking down model-based liveability estimates into interpretable
categories, policymakers and researchers can identify broader trends
and areas that may require local attention. To understand how other
indicators of liveability have evolved over time, explore
the dashboard [https://www.leefbaarometer.nl/home.php] or dive into
the original data.
[https://data.europa.eu/sites/default/files/img/media/20250404_%20Netherlands_1_updated%5B64%5D.png]
FIGURE 3: CHANGES IN LIVEABILITY IN THE NETHERLANDS

_SOURCE:_ DATA.EUROPA.EU
[https://data.europa.eu/data/datasets/leefbaarometer-meting-20201?locale=en] AND
THE LEEFBAAROMETER
[https://www.leefbaarometer.nl/page/Opendata#scores].

 

CONCLUSION

The power of open data lies not only in its initial application, but
in its potential for reuse. When made available in accessible formats,
open datasets can support new analysis, inspire service improvements
and enable better public understanding of complex issues.

 

The three examples described in this data story show how this works in
practice. In Ireland, open data on public expenditure provides
insights into shifting government priorities over decades, helping
both citizens and policymakers understand how national needs evolve.
This demonstrates how financial transparency not only strengthens
trust, but also fosters a more informed public debate around spending
decisions.

 

Meanwhile, in Switzerland, water quality data allows for the early
detection of pollutants, ensuring timely public health interventions
and reinforcing trust in environmental monitoring. This highlights how
open data can play a critical role in safeguarding essential services
and maintaining high environmental standards.

 

In the Netherlands, liveability data reveals steady progress in areas
like housing and safety, while also drawing attention to persistent
challenges such as declining social cohesion, offering guidance for
targeted urban improvements. This illustrates how open data supports
balanced, long-term planning by helping policymakers align national
progress with local needs.

 

Explore more open data initiatives at data.europa.eu
[https://data.europa.eu/en] and subscribe to our newsletter
[https://data.europa.eu/en/newsletter] for the latest updates.

