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.