Vol. 476 No. 1
113 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if he will have arrangements made to provide a meteorological office at Mizen Head, County Cork, in view of the fact that the nearest stations are Roches Point on the east and Valentia Island on the west. [6389/97]
I am satisfied the network of stations which Met Éireann operates at present is satisfactory and quite adequate for the production of reliable and comprehensive forecasts. In addition to the automatic weather station at Roches Point and the manned station in Valentia Observatory, Cahirciveen, County Kerry. There is also the manned station at Cork Airport and data from all the land stations are supplemented by a continuous flow of information from weather surveillance radar and from orbiting weather satellites.
We are all aware of the ongoing improvements in the quality and accuracy of the information and forecasts which Met Éireann provides. There is no complacency in this organisation, however, and Met Éireann maintains a continuous review of the data needs and steps towards further improvement are taken whenever opportunities arise. In this context there is likely to be an expansion in the network of automatic weather stations as the resources available permit.
