Healthy Ireland Local Government (HILG) is a joint initiative between Healthy Ireland and local authorities, aimed at strengthening community health and wellbeing.
In partnership with HILG, Compass Informatics has developed the Healthy Ireland Local Government Wellbeing Data Portal, a centralised, GIS-based platform that brings together national datasets in an accessible format, supporting local decision-making and cross-sector collaboration.
Healthy Ireland, working with Local Government, identified a need for a centralised data resource to support local decision-making on health and wellbeing. While many datasets were available nationally, they were fragmented, difficult to access, or not presented in a way that could directly inform community-level actions. Local community health officers needed an intuitive tool that provided relevant data without placing additional burdens on local authority GIS teams.
Compass Informatics, in partnership with Healthy Ireland and Local Government, developed the Healthy Ireland Local Government Wellbeing Data Portal. This GIS-based platform integrates multiple datasets into a single, user-friendly environment.
Key aspects of the solution:
Key Features
Developed in partnership with the National Transport Authority, ATOS is a tailored tool that measures how easily communities can access essential services. The methodology, adapted from Transport for London, considers walking, cycling, and driving times to key services. Local authorities can adjust the list of services and parameters to suit their specific needs.
Snapshot 1: ATOS Mapping
The portal visualises ATOS scores across regions, highlighting areas with strong access to services as well as those at risk of exclusion. For example, a community with limited access to healthcare or education services can be quickly identified, helping decision makers target interventions.
The portal incorporates results from community surveys, giving a qualitative dimension to the quantitative data. The Place Standard framework, widely used across Europe, helps communities assess factors such as environment, safety, and social cohesion.
Snapshot 2: Place Standard Dashboard
Survey responses are visualised in an interactive dashboard, allowing users to explore how residents perceive their local areas. Combining this with ATOS data and other indicators supports a holistic view of wellbeing that bridges statistical evidence with lived experience.
Users can filter, compare, and interpret datasets within the portal. This empowers local health teams to move from data collection to actionable insights, whether in planning a new service, evaluating an intervention, or reporting on outcomes.
The Healthy Ireland Local Government Wellbeing Data Portal represents a significant step forward in evidence-based, locally driven health planning. By integrating diverse datasets into a single, easy-to-use system, Compass Informatics has facilitated Healthy Ireland and local authorities to support healthier, more resilient communities.
Aligned with international best practice from the WHO Healthy Cities Network, Public Health Scotland, and NHS programmes such as Healthy New Towns, the portal sets a new standard for how data can inform wellbeing strategies.
Compass Informatics is an Irish company providing location technologies and data analytics solutions which enable government and commercial organisations to deliver more efficient operations, protect their assets and meet regulatory requirements.
Compass Informatics’ services include GIS & Data Analytics, IT Systems Development and Location Technologies and the company has won awards for their innovative solutions and focus on sustainability.
Compass leverages the latest technologies to achieve full-service project delivery including; Big Data Analytics, AI, Cloud, Mobile, GIS and Satellite-based Earth Observation amongst others.
Compass Informatics are part of Tracsis Plc.
To learn more about this project, and how the solution provided may benefit your organisation, please contact our team at info@compassinformatics.com.
