POTENTIAL HOMEBUYERS can now research the land on which their property is built with a new environmental report service offered by Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSI).
The report combines information from the OSI, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Geological Survey of Ireland, and includes data such as flood plains, what the land has been used for in the past, and the land stability on the site, including subsoils and landslide locations.
It could highlight if the site has previously been used for mining, or if any waste licences have been issued for the land. Aerial imagery of the site is also included.
All the features are geo-referenced, which means they are given a co-ordinate point for their position on the ground.
The information contained in the environmental reports could be used by planners, architects, engineers, and the legal profession, as well as current and potential owners. The reports, which can be generated for areas between 400m and 1,000m from a specific geo-point, cost between €60 and €150.
The new service is included on the OSI's new corporate website, which was launched yesterday at Farmleigh House by Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Seán Power.
Speaking at the launch, Mr Power said the report was an example of what could be achieved when agencies worked together to meet customer needs.
"This type of initiative endorses what the Taoiseach said recently in relation to the OECD review of the public service, which recommends a greater sharing of information between public bodies," he said.
The new site also links in to the OSI's smartmaps service, which allows users to browse the various maps of Ireland before buying them. Historic hand-drawn maps are also available on the site, which can be bought online and printed by the OSI for customers in large format.
Geraldine Ruane, chief executive of the OSI, said new mapping tools available online, such as Google Earth, were raising the level of interest in maps.
"Google Earth has opened up the whole market. New users can see what they can do with mapping, and when they want accurate, up to date mapping, they come to us," she explained.
The event at Farmleigh was also used to launch the new edition of the Dublin Street Guide.
For further information, visit: http://www.osi.ie
