AQW 20853/11-15


Mr Steven Agnew
Green Party
North Down


Tabled Date: 11/03/2013
Answered On Date: 25/03/2013
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (i) whether the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland is funded entirely by her Department; (ii) to provide details on which organisations contribute to the resourcing and/or funding the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland; and (iii) whether the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland receives any resources and/or funding from the British Geological Survey.


Answer:
The Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSNI) provides technical advice to DETI under a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). The cost of this SLA is borne entirely by DETI.In addition, GSNI receives funding under a separate SLA between NERC and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency under which GSNI provides specialist advice on hydrogeology. GSNI may periodically receive further funds from DETI, other Departments or Agencies for specific projects.
GSNI receives funding each year from the British Geological Survey (BGS) to finance research or service work undertaken on behalf of other BGS programmes that may not be directly relevant to the DETI/NERC SLA.