Geological Survey of Ireland begins a Major Landslides Susceptibility Mapping Project

Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Mr. Seán Power T.D., today announced the commencement of a major new initiative on landslides mapping by the Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI). Engineering consultants Mouchel Ireland Ltd. have been commissioned by the GSI to undertake landslides susceptibility mapping in two designated areas of Ireland.

This project was a major recommendation in the “Landslides in Ireland” report published by the GSI in 2006. The two areas involved are East Leinster and the Greater Cork City area. These two regions encompass two of the major development zones in Ireland. It is important to identify areas vulnerable to landsliding so as to minimise potential damage to infrastructural, residential and commercial developments and to plan for sustainable development in the future.

The project will include the coastal zone in the two areas and be scheduled over a number of years. This project is important in the context of climate change, where Ireland is predicted to experience higher intensity rainfall in the winter season which will increase the risk of landsliding in the country. Sea level is also predicted to rise and this will make the coastal zone more vulnerable to erosion. It is intended that the mapping methodology developed for this project will be adapted to undertake landslides susceptibility mapping in other areas of the country in the future.

-ENDS-

For more information, please contact:

Press Office

Department of Communications, Energy &

Natural Resources

T: 678 2441

E.mail: press.office@dcenr.gov.ie

Suirbhéireacht Gheolaíochta Éireann le tabhairt faoi Thionscadal Mór chun So-tharlachaint Sciorrtha Talún a Léarscáiliú

Baile Átha Cliath, 10^ú Iúil 2008

D’fhógair an tAire Stáit ag an Roinn Cumarsáide, Fuinnimh agus Acmhainní Nádúrtha, Seán Uasal de Paor T.D., inniu go bhfuil Suirbhéireacht Gheolaíochta Éireann (SGÉ) ag cur chuige chun mór-thionscnamh nua léarscáilíochta a dhéanamh um sciorrthaí talún. Tá comhairlithe innealtóireachta Mouchel Ireland Ltd coimisiúnaithe ag SGÉ chun léarscáil a dhéanamh de dhá cheantair áirithe in Éirinn um sho-tharlachaint sciorrthaí talún.

Ba mholadh tábhachtach de chuid na tuarascála “Sciorrthaí Talún in Éirinn” arna fhoilsiú ag an SGÉ i 2006 an tionscadal seo. Is iad Oirthear Laighean agus Mórcheantar Chathair Chorcaí an dá cheantar atá i gceist. Cuimsítear san dá cheann acu dhá limistéar mór-fhorbartha na hÉireann. Is tábhachtach ceantair atá i mbaol sciorrtha talún a aithint d’fhonn an dochar do fhorbairtí bonneagair, cónaithe nó tráchtála a fhéadfadh éirí as a íoslaghdú agus chun forbairt inmharthana a phleanáil san todhchaí.

Beidh limistéar an chósta mar ábhar an tionscadail san dá cheantar agus reáchtálfar é feadh roinnt bhlianta. Tá tábhacht leis i dtaca le hathrú aeráide óir go meastar go mbeidh déine báistí níos airde in Éirinn le linn an gheimhridh, rud a ardóidh an baol um sciorradh talún ar fud na tíre. Meastar freisin go n-ardóidh leibhéal na mara agus de thoradh sin gur mó an baol um chreimeadh i limistéar an chósta. Tá i gceist go n-athchóireofar an mhodhúlacht léarscáilithe a fhorbrófar faoin tionscadal seo chun so-tharlachaint sciorrthaí talún a mheas i gceantracha eile den tír amach anseo.

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