Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources
Roinn Cumarsáide, Mara agus Acmhainní Nádúrtha
Official Press Release

Landslide hazard in Ireland underestimated according to new report by Geological Survey of Ireland - Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Noel Dempsey T.D.

“Report calls for further work on the landslide issue to reduce risk”

Dublin, 3^rd August 2006

A report published today by the Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI) in association with the Irish Landslides Working Group has found that the incidence of landslide events in upland areas of the country has been underestimated. The Landslides in Ireland Report is the culmination of a number of years work by the Group, made up of a team drawn from universities and state agencies, and was established by the GSI in early 2004 to examine the issue of landslides in Ireland.

“This report represents a major contribution to the study of landslides on a national basis,” said Noel Dempsey T.D., Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. “It also informs our understanding of events leading up to the landslides at Pollatomish, Co. Mayo and Derrybrien, Co. Galway in 2003,” he added.

Landslides in Ireland emphasises that many parts of Ireland could be subject to such events in the future especially in light of increased infrastructure and urbanisation and climate change. Indeed the risk would be increased after drought followed by periods of heavy rainfall.

The two landslides in 2003 dramatically demonstrated the potential property damage and social upheaval that can occur because of landslide activity. The report contends that it is likely that in the future there will be increased landslide activity as development in Ireland increases and expands into potentially hazardous areas. One of the findings of the report is that it is important to act now to curb the cost of future landslide hazards through better understanding and mapping of these hazards and by improving the capability to mitigate and manage these natural disasters.

Significantly, the report calls for landslide issues to be brought into the planning sphere and devotes a chapter to the planning legislation in Ireland and the steps needed to fully integrate landslide issues into the planning process. The report also highlights the need to increase public awareness of landslide hazard. According to Dr. Peadar McArdle, Director of the GSI, “The focus must be on the expansion of the national database with a systematic survey of the country, targeted geotechnical research, the preparation of landslide susceptibility maps and the integration of landslide issues into the planning process.”

An electronic version of the report can be found on www.gsi.ie

Tel 01-6782804 E-mail Ronnie.Creighton@gsi.ie

ENDS