Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 84: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the full extent of the GSI with particular reference to the extent to which modern technology has been used to update this information; if he will restore the GSI Bill to the Order Paper; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38803/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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Earlier this year, the Geological Survey of Ireland, in cooperation with the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland, published a new 1:500,000 bedrock geology map of the island of Ireland. This map takes into account new information acquired by both surveys over recent years arising, for example, from ongoing surveying of the island, major infrastructural developments and drilling. The map is compiled and produced using the latest Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology. GSI has been a pioneer in the use of this technology in mapmaking since 1994.

As regards the GSI Bill the position is, as advised in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 32 of 19th October 2006, that my Department is separately, considering whether there is a case for converting the GSI from a division of the Department into a stand–alone agency. The question of advancing legislation is in abeyance pending the outcome of that consideration.