Following the occurrence of landslides at Pollatomish, County Mayo, and Derrybrien, County Galway, the Geological Survey of Ireland, GSI, established a national landslides working group in 2004 to collate information and examine the causes of landslides throughout the island of Ireland. The working group draws its members from the State and third level sectors in the Republic and Northern Ireland. It is multidisciplinary and includes expertise on geology, geomorphology, engineering, planning, climatology and geographic information systems.
The working group is building a national database of post-landslide events and it expects to publish its findings later this year. The working group also facilitates research into landslides, with several postgraduate projects already underway. The GSI is currently undertaking a pilot study of landslide susceptibility mapping in the uplands of Counties Leitrim and Sligo. This mapping could assist in formulating planning guidance for local authorities with regard to landslide hazards and the pilot study will assess its effectiveness under Irish conditions. It is expected that proposals will emerge from the working group for deepened research into the causes of these landslides and their associated risks. I am examining all options to ensure the GSI will develop a full understanding of these phenomena.