Departmental Schemes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 June 2021

Wednesday, 16 June 2021

Questions (43, 51)

Denis Naughten

Question:

43. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the progress to date of the National Parks and Wildlife Service peatland scheme for large-scale peatlands restoration in 2021; the number of Bord na Móna employees reassigned to date from peat harvesting activities; the number of Bord na Móna seasonal staff re-employed on each bog in which rehabilitation has commenced; the planned recruitment on each bog to be rehabilitated in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32377/21]

Denis Naughten

Question:

51. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 140 of 11 May 2021, if he will provide details on the progress to date of Bord na Móna’s large-scale peatlands restoration project and the number of Bord na Móna employees reassigned to date from peat harvesting activities; the number of Bord na Móna seasonal staff re-employed on each bog in which rehabilitation has commenced; the planned recruitment on each bog to be rehabilitated in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32376/21]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

I propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 51 together.

The Government is committed to a just transition in the Midlands region and has dedicated significant funding to supporting workers, companies and communities affected by the closure of the peat-fired power stations and the end of peat harvesting by Bord na Móna. The Government approved funding of €108 million for Bord na Móna’s large-scale peatlands project to rehabilitate 33,000 hectares of peatlands. This project is seeing Bord Na Móna reassign employees from peat harvesting activities into rehabilitation operations while supporting the natural environment and biodiversity of the peatlands.

In 2020, following a public procurement process, Bord Na Móna were engaged by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to project manage, provide other professional services, and undertake restoration works within the designated raised bog network.   

Since its appointment in April 2020, Bord Na Móna, overseen by a project working group, has undertaken significant preparatory works in advance of restoration measures at 9 project sites in the Midlands region, with a further 5 raised bog special areas of conservation to form part of this year’s programme.

Combined, these schemes will support 350 jobs - taking seasonality into account, this equates to 230 full-time equivalent roles. Of the 350 jobs, approximately 330 will be from the existing workforce.

To date across counties Galway, Meath, Kildare, Westmeath, Offaly, Roscommon, Laois and Longford I'm advised that 152 jobs have been assigned. This is an increase of 47 posts since May 2021. This number will continue to increase through the summer.

County	Jobs to date
Galway	27
Meath	0
Kildare	10
Westmeath	4
Offaly	87
Roscommon	5
Laois	4
Longford	15
Totals	152