The MOSAIC Programme is the brand name for the implementation of the Geographic Information (GI) Strategy for Northern Ireland, an initiative being progressed by the Department of Culture, Arts & Leisure (DCAL), through its Agency, Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland (OSNI).

Over the past two years, Northern Ireland has become the first region within the United Kingdom to develop a GI Strategy. Since the endorsement of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement by the people of Northern Ireland, the devolution of power has offered a real opportunity for the local administration to begin to address, in a constructive and inclusive way, the institutional barriers preventing progress in GI.

The latest Programme for Government, entitled 'Making a difference' recognises the contribution that GI can make to improved service delivery, by:

· Enhancing the role which mapping and GI plays in developing the infrastructure to support a relatively cheap and efficient land registration system and in the:

· Targeting disadvantaged areas, geographically identified as deprived;

· Identifying geographic differentials in unemployment and poverty; and

· Examining the geographical barriers that can discourage people from taking up opportunities for education and training.

In order to achieve these and other aims, the Northern Ireland Executive committed itself to developing a GI strategy. (The consultation document and consultation responses can be found in the Library section of the website)

The vision for the geographic information strategy for Northern Ireland is;

"To provide the strategic leadership required for a practical, co-ordinated and inclusive approach to improving the collection, funding, dissemination and use of geographic information, in order to maximize the social, economic and educational potential of this crucial component of the national information infrastructure resource."

A set of values was developed from a stakeholders conference workshop to govern the direction of the strategy;

· The importance of geographic information as a social, economic and educational resource.

· The requirement for strategic leadership and better strategic co-ordination.

· The need for an inclusive approach to the development of geographic information and working in partnership with other stakeholders in its development in Northern Ireland and wider afield. This requires us to develop ways of networking.

· The existence of standards, and the need to adopt and adapt those that already exist.

· The importance of good communication and education about geographic information.

Significant progress has been made toward achieving this goal, including the creation of an Implementation Project Board, a Programme Office, and a number of sectoral and project groups including:

Culture & heritage
Education & awareness
Environment & agriculture
Health & social improvement
Key datasets
Land & Property
Public safety & emergency services
Statistics
Transport
Utilities & Networks