Geological Survey Ireland recently signed a research collaboration agreement between GSI, TCD & OPW, to run for a 2 year period with the aim of documenting building and decorative stone in Ireland to inform government agencies, building owners and conservationists of the sources for suitable replacement stone in restoration work and to develop a greater awareness of geology and the built environment among the general public. In addition to promoting citizen science and awareness of local materials, the inventory will aid the public in complying with part 4 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, which requires owners to conserve protected structures. It will also assist local authorities in issuing Section 57 Declarations, which outline ‘the type of works which it considers would or would not materially affect the character of the structure or any element of the structure’.

This project will build on work already completed funded by the Irish Research Council (March 2019-September 2020) that carried out primary research on the topic and developed a simple database and web-based platform as well as hosting various heritage displays at venues.