Frequently asked questions

ADR NI is one of the four national partnerships that comprise ADR UK (the others being ADR England, ADR Scotland, and ADR Wales). ADR NI is a collaboration between the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA), which is the main repository for official statistics and social science research in Northern Ireland, and the Administrative Data Researcher Centre- Northern Ireland (ADRC NI), an academic partnership between Queens University Belfast and Ulster University. The main objective of the ADR NI is to support the attainment, linking, and analysis of administrative datasets to improve knowledge, policy decisions, and public service delivery.

Administrative data is data collected by national and local government, as well as other public sector organizations, for administrative or operational purposes. Administrative data is a vastly underutilized but extremely useful resource which contains a wealth of information about our society. ADR NI provides a forum for access to safe, secure, and unidentifiable administrative data. Examples of such data include Census data and health and social care data. The availability of administrative datasets enables researchers to gain an increased understanding of economic, health, education, and social issues in NI, which in turn can lead to improved policy and public services.

ADR NI has two dataset providers: the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) and the Honest Broker Service (HBS). Through NISRA, researchers can gain access to two main administrative databases, in addition to several bespoke databases. The two main databases are the Northern Ireland Longitudinal Study (NILS) and the Northern Ireland Mortality Study (NIMS). The HBS is the Trusted Research Environment for Health and Social Care (HSC) in Northern Ireland and provides anonymized patient-level data. This includes data pertaining to general practitioner registrations, prescriptions, hospital admissions and discharges, as well as specific datasets for emergency, maternity, dental, and ophthalmic departments.

The NILS covers 28% of the NI population and approximately 50% of Northern Ireland households. The ‘core data’ of the NILS is drawn from the Health Card Registration data and then linked to data from Census returns (1981, 1991, 2001, & 2011), Vital Events (births, deaths, and marriages), Migration, and Property data.

The NIMS links data for the enumerated population of Northern Ireland from the 1991, 2001, and 2011 Censuses to registered mortality data from the General Register Office (GRO). The NIMS database is updated quarterly and currently contains deaths up to September 2020.

All NILS/NIMS projects need to meet the following criteria:

1. have a longitudinal aspect.
2. illustrate how using NILS/NIMS data will uniquely contribute to the study.
3. provide clear evidence of the value of their proposed study to Health and Social Care-related research and specific policies.
4. support the development/delivery of public policy.

These datasets can be accessed in the safe environment at Colby House, Belfast (for information on using the safe environment please see the dedicated presentation). If you want to explore the possibilities of using the NILS/NIMS databases, it is possible to view a full list of previous research projects using these databases.

If you want to delve deeper into the specific variables in the NILS/NIMS databases, you can do so by looking at the data dictionary and metadata.

Alternatively, if you want to know more about the procedures involved in applying for a project using the NILS/NIMS database, please select the NILS/NIMS track on the home screen.

The HBS is the Trusted Research Environment for Health and Social Care (HSC) Northern Ireland. The HBS provides anonymized patient level data. This includes data on general practitioner registrations and prescriptions, hospital admissions and discharges, including specific datasets for emergency, maternity, dental and ophthalmic departments. Depending on the specific dataset, data is available as early as 2005 and updated on a daily, weekly, monthly, or quarterly basis.

The HBS databases offer an opportunity for a wide range of studies in Northern Ireland; however, all research projects must relate to health and social care, be in the public interest and help support development/delivery of public policy. Datasets can be accessed in the Safe Haven located at the BSO headquarters on Franklin Street Belfast or they can be accessed remotely using the Secure e-Research Platform.

If you want to explore the possibilities of using the HBS databases, it is possible to view a full list of previous research projects using these databases.

If you want to delve deeper into the specific variables in the HBS databases, you can do so by looking at the metadata.

Alternatively, if you want to know more about the procedures involved in applying for a project using the Honest Broker Service databases, please select the Honest Broker Service track on the home screen.

Yes, using Distinct Linkage Projects, it is possible to link data from both suppliers. You must clearly indicate your intention to link data in your application and ethics form for both data providers. Should you require more information, please have a look at the completing an application and ethics tutorials for both NILS/NIMS and the HBS.

There are several protocols put in place to ensure ethical use and confidentiality of the data.

1. Researchers must obtain accreditation status. If you would like to know more about this, please select either the NISRA or HBS track on the home screen.
2. Data must be accessed through a secure facility, or a secure connection to that facility, provided by ADR NI.
3. Records from each of the requested data sources are selected, linked, and de-identified by ‘Trusted Third Party’ staff, independently from the research team and in accordance with ADR procedures. The research team is then provided with the final, linked, and de-identified dataset for analysis.
4. ADR NI operates according to the ‘Five Safes’ (i.e., Safe Data, Safe Person, Safe Place, Safe Project, Safe Output) developed by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) which are a set of safeguards and measures enacted to ensure that data is kept safe and secure. For more information on, visit the ADR UK website.

Should you have any questions that are not addressed by the resources provided on this webpage, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the ADR NI team via adrcni@qub.ac.uk.

These are datasets that ADR NI have developed alongside partners for accredited researchers to use. There are currently two such datasets: Earnings and Employees Study (EES) 2011 and Education Outcomes Linkage (EOL) 2018/2019. If you want further information on these databases, please select the ADR NI specific datasets on the home screen.

The Five Safes framework includes (1) safe projects, (2) safe people, (3) safe settings, (4) safe data and (5) safe outputs.

• Get more information on the framework

For standard projects, ethics applications are completed on the Integrated Research Application System (IRAS). The IRAS is a system that is used for applying for permissions and approvals for health and social care/community care research in the UK. It produces an IRAS ID, which is used by stakeholders across the UK as the common study identifier. The IRAS system requires you to create an account and IRAS captures the information needed for the relevant approvals from the following review bodies:

• Administration of Radioactive Substances Advisory Committee (ARSAC)
• Confidentiality Advisory Group (CAG)
• Gene Therapy Advisory Committee (GTAC)
• Health Research Authority (HRA) and Health and Care Research Wales (HCRW) for projects seeking HRA & HCRW Approval
• Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
• NHS / HSC R&D offices
• NHS / HSC Research Ethics Committees
• Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS)
• Social Care Research Ethics Committee

These are a network of small standardised safe settings across the UK that provide secure access to data for research that benefits the public.

Get further information and details on how to book into the SafePod.

The ADR NI Strategy 2022 – 2026 was developed in consultation with policymakers and considering the Programme for Government consultation document. The priority areas of this strategy include topics such as housing, health and well-being, vulnerable populations, impacts of Covid-19, education, and employment.

Read a full overview of the ADR-NI strategy

At the moment only data provided by the Honest Broker Service (HBS) can be accessed remotely via the UK Secure e-Research Platform (SeRP). For now, NILS/NIMS data can only be accessed in Colby House in Belfast or in a SafePod (for example, the SafePod at Ulster University in Coleraine). More information about accessing data is provided in the video titled ‘Safe Environments’, included on this webpage.

Everyone who wants to work with administrative data will have to first apply to become an accredited researcher. This involves an application through the Office of National Statistics, following online Safe Researcher Training and acquiring an AccessNI certificate. More information on becoming an accredited researcher is provided in the video titled ‘Becoming an accredited researcher’, included on this webpage.

Yes, both Ulster University and Queens University Belfast employ teams of researcher with a wealth of experience in working with administrative data. These researchers can help you navigate the full process of working with administrative data, including; project application, designing of an analytic and statistical framework, and even writing manuscripts for scientific journals. You only have to bring your ideas for the study. Also, the roadmaps provided on this webpage provide a comprehensive overview of the research process from start to finish.

Yes, both Ulster University and Queens University Belfast employ teams of researchers with a wealth of experience in working with administrative data. These researchers can inform you about the opportunities and challenges associated with working with administrative data.

This webpage provides you with all documentation that you would need to work with administrative data. Just follow the instructions provided at the start of the roadmap and it will lead you to folders with the necessary documentation for each step of the process of working with administrative data, as well as a series of instruction videos to walk you through the whole process.

The Public Engagement, Communications and Impact Manager at the ADRC-NI can help you along with this aspect of the project. You can get into contact with them via adrcni@qub.ac.uk.

The Public Engagement, Communications and Impact Manager at the ADRC-NI can help you along with this aspect of the project. You can get into contact with them via adrcni@qub.ac.uk.

The short answer is no. Given that administrative data is provided by the public, researchers can only work with this type of data when their studies have the goal of policy and public benefit. However, both Ulster University and Queens University Belfast employ teams of researcher with a wealth of experience in working with administrative data. In cooperation with these researchers, you can explore whether your research could be beneficial to policy and or to the public, as well as discuss the opportunities and challenges associated with working with administrative data.