Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 July 2004
111 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the assessment his Department has given to the most appropriate and ecologically sustainable uses for cutaway bog following his recent launch of Ireland’s largest bog restoration project at Eskeragh, County Mayo. [20241/04]
View answerThe Eskeragh project and the utilisation of cutaway bog are two separate issues. The former relates to the restoration of what was virgin bog habitat prior to forestry work and the latter refers to industrial cutaway bog and its usage in the future. Eskeragh is part of an EU LIFE-Nature that is jointly funded by Coillte and DG-Environment of the EU Commission. It is a four year programme, the primary aim of which is to achieve restoration of blanket bog habitat on 1,212 hectares of land owned by Coillte. Fourteen blanket bog sites were selected for restoration.
The National Council for Forest Research and Development is undertaking a research project to assess the possibility of developing a forest resource on industrial cutaway peat land in the midlands. The project is due for completion in December 2005.
Applications for support under the forestry programme by land owners for tree planting on cutaway bog will be examined on their merits and on good forest planting practice.
