Will Townland names be held in Pointer?
A. On 1 October 2001 the Assembly debated a motion that called on each Government Department to adopt a policy of using and promoting townland names in all Government correspondence and official documents. The motion gained cross-party support and was supported unanimously. In addition to highlighting the historical and cultural aspects of townland names, the Assembly also debated the problem of simply using house numbers and street names for the Emergency Services. Examples were quoted of some long roads that run for up to 10 miles, making it difficult for an emergency services driver to locate a particular house if the numbering of properties along that road is inadequate. In May 2002, the Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee published a report of their inquiry into cultural tourism and the arts. In particular, the Committee heard evidence about the use of townland names in Northern Ireland: “The resonances of history and place, which Northern Ireland’s townland names encapsulate, are
