Functions of the Agency

The principal functions of the Agency are:
 

• to be principal advisory body on statistics and social research for Northern Ireland Departments, the Northern Ireland Office and their respective Ministers;
• to provide and co-ordinate professional statistics and research services, and provide advice to Northern Ireland Departments, Agencies and Non-Departmental Public Bodies;
• to collect, analyse and make available official statistics which describe Northern Ireland’s society, economy, population and public service;
• to provide high quality demographic information to enable the number and the condition of the population to be monitored and changes over time to be identified
• to support, facilitate and contribute to the development of economic and social policies in Northern Ireland;
• to ensure that statistical and research standards are adhered to and that best methodological practice is employed in official statistics and social research;
• to provide Northern Ireland statistics required for United Kingdom, European Union and international statistical series; and
• to administer the marriage laws and provide an efficient and effective system for the registration of births, marriages, adoptions and deaths in Northern Ireland.