Potential house buyers can now research the land on which their property is built with the new Environmental Reportdeveloped by Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSI).
The report combines data from the OSI, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Geological Survey of Ireland. It includes information on historic flood plains, what the land has been used for in the past, and the land stability on the site.
The data could highlight if the site has previously been used for mining, or if any waste licences have been issued for the land.
The information could also be used by planners, architects, engineers, and the legal profession, as well as current and potential owners. The reports can be generated for areas between 400 metres and 1,000 metres from a specific geo-point, costing between €60 and €150.
The new service is included on the OSI’s new corporate website, which was unveiled today at Farmleigh House by the Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Seán Power.
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.
“Working together in this way leads to an improvement of services which ultimately makes a very effective contribution to the infrastructural base of business in the economy.”
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.