Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 21 Jun 1995

Vol. 454 No. 7

Written Answers. - Cutaway Bogland.

Michael McDowell

Question:

11 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the action, if any, he proposes to take to ensure that the large tracts of cutaway bogs becoming available from Bord na Móna operations will be put to beneficial use. [11386/95]

Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications (Mr. Lowry)

Bord na Móna operates on a total peatland area of over 80,000 hectares, primarily in the midland counties but also in County Mayo. The extraction of peat by Bord na Móna from its production areas results in areas of cut-away bog being created. These are areas where it is not economic to continue the removal of peat.

Over the yeas a number of studies into the possible use of cutaway bog have been undertaken, which have yielded useful pointers for the future. Research into the potential long term uses of industrial peatlands has tended to concentrate on the agricultural and forestry potential of the emerging cutaways. A preliminary assessment has indicated that up to 30 per cent of the eventual cutaway peatlands will not be suitable for either agricultural or forestry purposes but that they will have considerable potential for the creation of wetlands, wilderness and wildlife habitats.

As a result of the most recent study on cutaways, the report of the Independent Expert Committee on Cutaway Bogs which reported in 1991, Bord na Móna ensures that cutaway bogs converted to grassland are disposed of in small lots to allow small farmers the opportunity to acquire such land. Coillte Teoranta no longer has first option on cutaway bogland suitable for afforestation.

The expert committee recommended that the planning and development of the amenity-environmental areas of cut-away should be based on sound ecological principles and the process of accumulating the knowledge to establish these principles should commence as soon as possible. In this context my Department has included a measure in the Economic Infrastructure Operational Programme for Ireland 1994-99 which will entail the undertaking of studies into the regeneration of certain cutaway peatlands. Cutaway developments will also be established involving the creation of 1,000 acres of new wetlands and around 500 acres of wildlife habitats. The total cost of the measure, which will be managed by Bord na Móna, will be approximately £2.2 million of which 50 per cent will be grant-aided by the EU. The completion of this project should add immeasurably to our knowledge of the principles undermining the planning and development of amenity and wildlife areas and will form the basis for future development of Bord na Móna's cutaway peatlands.

As a condition of the disbursement of Structural Funds towards the cost of the new peat-fired power station for the east midlands I have agreed with the EU Commission that Bord na Móna will be required to implement a development plan for the bogs supplying the new station after the peat is extracted, dividing areas between coniferous forestry, deciduous forestry, grassland and wetlands.

Finally, I stress that there will be no significant areas of cutaway available until after the end of the decade. All areas available to date have been developed for grassland, coniferious forestry and, in recent years, some wetland areas.