rector in the Department of Agriculture , Food and the Marine have today announced a series of activity to tolerate Irish horticultural agriculturalist who are dependent on peat .
This follows the publication of the Final Report of the Working Group on the Use of Peat Moss in the Horticultural Industry . The Working Group on the Use of Peat Moss in the Horticultural Industry was launch follow a series of High Court decisions which determined that large scale peat harvesting requires planning permission and licensing by the Environmental Protection Agency . The Working Group was task in particular with analyse the potential of alternatives to peat for the horticultural diligence . While the sphere is commit to transitioning away from peat , this is not potential in the short term .
Against this background knowledge , the Department of Agriculture , Food and the Marine ( DAFM ) has worked with the Departments of Environment , Climate and Communications ( DECC ) , and Housing , Local Government and Heritage ( Housing ) , to develop proposals that include:• the commissioning of an independent expert to valuate stage and suitability of current broth of peat across all supplier , include Bord na Móna , for the Irish horticultural sector;• the commissioning of experts on project to provide free advice to those who wish to extract peat in a fashion which is compliant with the relevant regulation on sub-30 hectare bogs ; and• research to deliver alternatives to peat for the horticulture sector . The ultimate ambition of this exercise is to corroborate the € 469 million horticulture manufacture , the people engage and the many family unit that depend on this important sector .
Referring to the situation faced by Irish growers , the Minister for Agriculture , Food and the Marine , Charlie McConalogue T.D. said : " Ministers Hackett , Heydon and I are very cognisant that there are no simple answer here , but we are committed to exploring every opportunity to alleviate the current difficulty for agriculturist , their line and their family unit . The horticulture sector is essential for the agriculture industriousness and the overall saving . We are strive to plow the short - term issue of provision , the average terminal figure one of future access to peat and also the longer - terminus issue of replacement with choice . We thank our Ministerial co-worker Eamon Ryan and Darragh O’Brien for their help in delivering a serial publication of action to support this crucial sector . We also of grade , wish to thank Minister of State Malcolm Noonan for the work he did with the working group . ”
Minister Hackett said : “ As Minister with responsibility for Horticulture , I see growers demand certainty about the supply of peat in the short term . With that in mind , I will commission an independent expert to work apace with growers , and suppliers , including Bord na Móna , to find out exactly what farm animal are available . Bord na Móna have committed to work with an independent expert and the agriculturalist to see if any of the stocks of peat they have on hand would be of usage to the horticulture sector . ”
Some level of import can not be decree out in the short term because this has always been a factor in the peat industriousness in Ireland . However , there is a regulative nerve pathway to lawfully compliant descent and the fastest itinerary for the domestic industry look to be small - plate descent on antecedently drained sub-30 hectare bogs . The Ministers will commission the services of experts on planning matters to provide free advice to those wishing to achieve regulative compliance for descent of horticultural peat for supplying to the domestic horticulture industriousness . Bord na Móna has supply assurance that the equipment required to mix in such peat , should it become available , remains in the country . The Department of Agriculture , Food and the Marine will be liaising with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on the commission of all experts .
Minister Heydon T.D. , who has obligation for Research and Development , said : “ Our long - term finish is to develop suited peat - complimentary alternative for growers , that are economically and environmentally sustainable . I recently practice inquiry funding from this Department of € 1.69 m to a inquiry projection ‘ Beyond Peat ’ to be attempt by Teagasc to enquire likely alternatives to peat . I am also betroth with others who are conducting research piece of work in this area . These option will take time to come to fruition and growers will continue to need admission to a workable growing spiritualist in the lag to protect these valuable caper and sector . ”
Minister Darragh O’Brien add : “ The professional horticultural industry makes a vast part to the Irish economy , in price of employment , of food security and in sustaining a whole range of other downstream business concern . We need to stand with our Irish growers , and give them avail and support to get to the pocket-size supplies of peat that they need while realistic alternative to peat as a develop sensitive are still in development . This must be done in a means that complies with our planning and licensing laws , and I am glad to see that expert help will be provided as part of this programme of Actions , to aid growers engage with and navigate the regulatory system . ”
Minister Malcolm Noonan aver : “ This joint programme of Actions , agreed by the three Departments , draws on the authoritative work done by Dr Prasad and the Working Group on Peat in Horticulture . I would wish to thank everyone who contribute to the work of that Group . Our peatlands are a national treasure . I look forward to put to work with my colleague in DAFM and DECC to ensure the renovation and renewal of peat bog , once the special and legally compliant descent of peat envisaged in this programme of Actions has concluded . ”
Read the gross report here .
