Vol. 163 No. 5
I move:—
That a sum not exceeding £49,200 be granted to complete the sum necessary to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1958, for the Salaries and Expenses of the Ordnance Survey and of Minor Services including the Facsimile Reproduction of Ancient Manuscripts.
Last year I think a start was made on the precise levelling of the country based on the mean sea level datum in place of the old datum which was 21 feet, I think, below the mark on the base of the Poolbeg Lighthouse. That is necessary to ensure that our maps and charts can be read on an international basis. Perhaps the Minister would tell us what progress has been made in that respect.
I think a new tide gate station was to be erected at Portmore Pier, Malin Head, to give the reading on which this datum would be based. Perhaps the Minister would be good enough to tell us what revision has been carried out of the various Ordnance Survey maps. I think a periodic revision of the 25-inch sheets is carried out every year. As well as I recollect—perhaps Deputy Griffin would be more certain about it than I—County Meath was scheduled for revision during the year just closed. I wonder whether that revision was carried through. The megalithic survey in County Meath was to be completed last year. Was it, in fact, completed and was it continued on into County Tipperary, as was proposed? These are functions of the Ordnance Survey Office of which the public are not generally aware.
As the Deputy has rightly said, a new tide gate station has been erected at Portmore Pier, Malin Head, County Donegal, on which the levels will be based. It is expected that the survey work will be done in County Meath during the year and that the megalithic work will be completed in County Clare this year.
