Overview
During this year, the International Year of Planet Earth (IYPE), a successful programme of events attracted considerable public attention for the contribution that geoscience makes to society and for the mission of the Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI). With the support of the Royal Irish Academy (RIA) and a wide spectrum of partners, GSI co-ordinated a programme of talks, walks, events and exhibitions throughout the country. Competitions were organised for students at various levels, schools received free rock sets, several media programmes and items were broadcast, and An Post issued commemorative stamps.

As a key State agency for the geoscience sector, GSI published "Geoscience: Gaining Ground", a profile of the economic impact of the sector in Ireland. GSI worked with the RIA and the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSNI) on a strategic process to identify the key geoscience priorities for Ireland and Northern Ireland over the coming five years. The process involved public seminars in Belfast and Dublin in addition to website consultation (See “Geoscience – Building the Future” on http://www.gsi.ie/ )

The strategic priorities of GSI were kept under review to ensure they remained in line with the recently emerging financial constraints. GSI continues to deliver its key priorities with high quality, albeit with reduced staff and other resources, at output levels which are 60-70 % of recent years.

North-South Cooperation
The Framework on Scientific Cooperation, agreed in late 2007 between the British Geological Survey (BGS), GSNI and GSI, was successfully implemented during 2008. Joint planning of shared outputs was undertaken across all selected programmes in GSI and GSNI. A joint meeting of the Consultative Committees of GSI and GSNI was held, providing important stakeholder support for the cooperation programme.
The Science Review Team, consisting of key managers in both surveys, prepared the First Annual Report indicating the range of targets achieved.

Progress in Marine Geoscience
INFOMAR, the nearshore seabed survey being undertaken jointly with the Marine Institute (MI), concluded a successful survey season in 2008. Ship-based surveys using the RV Celtic Voyager were undertaken in Donegal and Sligo Bays, off the Cork coast and in the Irish Sea. Airborne LIDAR surveys took place in several bays, including Donegal, Sligo, Tralee, Blacksod, Galway and Lough Foyle. Survey results attracted considerable attention in the provincial media. The Annual Seminar for stakeholders was a success. INFOMAR exhibited at Oceanology International in London’s Docklands, the premier international marine trade show attended by 6,000 visitors.

Although not a formal partner in the N-S Joint Irish Bathymetric Survey, GSI ensured that data from that survey were integrated with those of INFOMAR and made available through the GSI Interactive Web Data Delivery System (IWDDS). In addition seabed classification data for 2007 and early 2008 surveys were uploaded onto IWDDS. A cluster of seven European geological surveys, including GSI, established Northeast Atlantic Geoscience (NAG), a consortium designed to undertake collaborative projects. Its initial focus is on seabed themes.

GSI took delivery of an inshore survey launch at the end of 2008 and this will ensure more cost effective delivery of the INFOMAR programme in the years ahead.

An external evaluation of INFOMAR concluded that to date the programme represented value for money, that its completion would yield benefits 4 to 6 times the costs and presented a range of options for its future. In December Government approved funding of €20 million over the next five years for the continuation of INFOMAR, subject to normal funding procedures. This provided significant validation for the programme.

Carbon-Capture-and-Storage
Carbon-capture-and-storage (CCS), in which carbon dioxide from point sources such as coal-fired power stations is sequestered in deep geological formations, has been identified as a key issue for energy and climate change policy. GSI is a member of the Inter-Departmental Committee which was established in 2008 to advise the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources on the application of the technology in Ireland. GSI participated in a consultancy desk study on the potential for such storage in Ireland and Northern Ireland; the other partners were the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) and GSNI. Work started on a project designed to assess the carbon storage potential in the vicinity of Moneypoint Power Station, County Clare. This seeks to construct a 3D model of the subsurface here but new funding will be required to complete the additional investigations involved.

Data Access for Customers
In line with its policy on free access to data, GSI published a free interactive CD version of the recently published “Bedrock Geological Map of Ireland” (1:500,000 scale) which also includes a pdf version of our educational publication “Understanding Earth Processes, Rocks and the Geological History of Ireland”. Several hundred copies have been distributed to date. The GSI policy regarding free digital data gained recognition internationally because it has promoted the maximum use of our data by a variety of users.

The Irish Spatial Data Exchange (http://www.isde.ie/), launched by a consortium of agencies including GSI, allows users easy access to environmental metadata holdings. A new GSI eStore (http://www.gsishop.ie/) opened in June. Additional groundwater and mineral exploration datasets have been placed on http://www.gsi.ie/ and http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/. GSI joined the Science Foundation Ireland funded StratAG multi-partner project managed by NUI Maynooth, designed to develop strategic research in advanced geotechnologies.

Building Research Capacity in Geoscience
A comprehensive monitoring regime has been implemented for the Griffith Geoscience Research Awards Scheme to ensure it is managed in a timely and transparent way. Work programmes and recruitment are under way in all nine contracts, which address key geoscience issues such as CCS, groundwater and seabed resources, including how climate change will impact on them.

Mine Remediation Studies
A major consultancy study prepared by CDM Consultants addresses the management and remediation of the now-closed mining operations at Avoca. The study involved considerable consultation with stakeholders in the area and included the preparation of a set of costed options for the various phases of the remediation work. The final report was received at the end of the year. In addition, the final report on the Historic Mine Sites project, prepared by GSI and largely funded by the EPA, was ready at the same time. This will assist in Ireland’s compliance with the requirements of an EU Directive on managing waste from the extractive industries.

Groundwater Protection
The NDP-funded national mapping programme for groundwater protection was advanced significantly by Tobin Consulting Engineers working closely with GSI staff. Intended to fast-track relevant national databases, it will provide maps of subsoil permeability, thickness and groundwater vulnerability, leading to a seamless nationwide suite of vulnerability mapping. In 2008 work on Counties Dublin, Leitrim, Longford, Louth, Sligo and Westmeath was completed. A total of 1,334 metres(m) were augured in 238 boreholes by Technical Service in support of this activity. All maps and reports relating to the Groundwater Protection Schemes for Counties Cavan and Galway were delivered to the respective local authorities. The groundwater aspects of River Basin District Projects (in support of the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive) were serviced as far as staff resources permitted.

Landslide Hazards
Public attention was once more drawn to the potential for landslides in Ireland by media coverage of new landslide events in Kerry and on the Leitrim-Roscommon border. A contract was awarded to Mouchel Ireland Ltd to undertake landslides susceptibility mapping over a period of five years in two priority areas. These include major urban areas in East Leinster and the greater Cork City area.

Geoparks and Geoheritage
GSI continued its support for the Geoparks concept. In cooperation with GSNI it convened the inaugural meeting of the Geoparks Ireland Forum which brings together a wide variety of stakeholders, including local authorities, to share experience and knowledge. The first international Geopark anywhere in the world was created when the European Geoparks Network, under the aegis of UNESCO, approved the extension of the Marble Arch Caves Geopark, County Fermanagh, into West Cavan. GSI provided resources and NDP funding to support Geoparks development at the Copper Coast, the Burren of County Clare and in Mourne-Cooley, as well as Cavan-Fermanagh through the Breifne project.

The Irish Geological Heritage (IGH) programme of GSI delivered a national indicative list of heritage sites to the National Parks & Wildlife Service of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. This list will be the basis for designating geological sites as Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs). GSI, jointly with the Irish Concrete Federation, published guidelines on geological heritage for quarry operators. County Heritage Reports for Fingal and Kilkenny were delivered to their respective local authorities while work continued on a similar project for County Meath.

An historical map of the Goldfields of Victoria, Australia, deposited in GSI following its display at the 1852 Dublin Exhibition, was returned to the State Library of Victoria.

Infrastructure
The Dublin Geourban project, funded with NDP support, completed three modules on schedule. These modules relate to bedrock and geotechnical datasets and have significantly enhanced our ability to model the subsurface over a wide area. This will provide important contributions to major infrastructure projects. In parallel, engineering consultants regularly view data on the Geotechnical Map Viewer. During 2008, 298 project reports containing data on 2,733 boreholes and trial pits were added to the Geotechnical Database, representing a 9% increase on 2007.

GSI provided increased support for the planning process during 2008, responding to 357 notifications on environmental impact statements and planning applications as against 181 in 2007 and 97 in 2006. In addition, GSI became a partner in the Environmental Reports Service launched by Ordnance Survey Ireland. This service will be of particular interest to homeowners and construction firms.

Aggregate Resources
Aggregates Potential Mapping, funded by the NDP, was continued during 2008, with reconnaissance surveys completed in Counties Dublin, Kildare and Laois. The Irelithos Project (co-funded by the Office of Public Works), which aims to match stone in State-owned heritage buildings with its source, was largely completed with the construction of a database.

Environmental Surveys
Pilot studies from the Resource and Environmental Survey of Ireland (RESI), which is designed to eventually provide comprehensive and nationwide geophysical and geochemical coverage, were processed and interpreted. A specific report on radon modelling was provided by BGS. A Eurogeosurveys Europe-wide project on baseline geochemical data for agricultural soils was started, which will complement national datasets. GSI participated with the aid of NDP funding.

New Products
“Climates through Time”, an innovative map product prepared in co-operation with BGS and GSNI, was ready for printing at year-end. The Burren Geotourism map “Landscape and Rocks of the Burren” was launched in mid year while a similar product for Waterford Harbour was in preparation at the end of 2008. At the same time Bedrock Sheet 28a (Monaghan, 1: 50,000) was ready for CD production. A total of 763m was drilled in four boreholes by Technical Service during 2008 in support of the Bedrock Programme. Quaternary maps for Louth-Westmeath were provided to Kilsaran Concrete Products Ltd, marking the end of a collaborative mapping project. A final report on the application of geophysical techniques in Quaternary mapping of County Dublin and the Midlands was completed.

GSI Training Courses
GSI contributes to national up-skilling through its training and educational services. In cooperation with FAS and the EPA it contributed to two courses on site suitability assessment for installation of on-site waste water treatment systems. In addition, practical training inputs were provided to geography teachers to support the teaching of the Leaving Certificate Geography Syllabus.

Public Interest
GSI activities continued to generate public interest, and while the level of print media coverage recorded a drop of 19% over 2007, its website showed an increase in visitors of 19% in 2008. Public queries answered by GSI (2,890 queries in 2008) remained at about the same level as last year.

 2008 Annual Report

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