Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 February 2022
111. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress that has been made in ascertaining the level of horticultural peat stock available to growers; and if his Department has commissioned experts to provide free advice to those wishing to achieve regulatory compliance for extraction of horticultural peat on sub-30 ha bogs for supply to the domestic horticulture industry. [6892/22]
View answerThis is an area that we have discussed on many occasions. I recognise that the issue facing the horticulture and mushroom sectors is not necessarily of the Department's making but it has been allowed to develop into a full-blown crisis. This Department, the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and the Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Malcolm Noonan, all have a role on this. The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, responded to me in a parliamentary question stating that oversight for resolving this crisis rests entirely with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I would like to know what will be done about it.
On 17 January this year, my Department, in conjunction with the Departments of the Environment, Climate and Communications and Housing, Local Government and Heritage, set out a working paper to put in place a series of actions to support the horticultural growers who are dependent on peat as a growing medium.
Part of this series of actions includes the commissioning of an independent expert who will work with all peat suppliers to ascertain the volume of horticultural peat stocks available to growers. This is a key action in that working paper.
A second key action that was announced was the commissioning of experts to provide focussed regulatory guidance on planning to assist those wishing to extract peat in the medium term for horticulture growers. This expert guidance will provide a valuable resource to those seeking legal compliance for abstraction.
I acutely understand the importance of delivering these actions quickly. The industry is under pressure in this regard and we are working as quickly as possible to assist it in any and all ways we can.
As the Deputy can appreciate, there are procedures and protocols to be adhered to as part of the process of commissioning such experts. My Department is currently engaged in this process with a view to having the services of these experts available as soon as possible.
The horticultural sector is crucially important. It supports the employment of 17,000 people. It has particular emphasis in a number of geographical areas.
My constituency is heavily dependent on the mushroom sector. The reason for that is farmers did what they were told. They were told to diversify. They were told to move out of beef on smallholdings. They did that and now they are faced with an existential crisis beyond their making.
There has been too much dithering on this issue. We have had working groups, reports and expert commissions; we have had everything. The only thing we have not had is action that will allow the horticulture sector to know that it will have an adequate supply of horticultural peat until an alternative is in place.
There needs to be an alternative found but that has to be a sustainable and management alternative. In the meantime, people do not want to hear what the problems are because they know what they are. They want to know how their jobs will be saved, how the businesses will be saved and how the economy will be protected. What specific actions will be taken by the Department that will allow this sector to have that confidence?
I thank the Deputy.
As addressed in the series of actions we published earlier this year, there are three types of actions. In the short term, it is commissioning those experts, both to ascertain the volume of peat supplies that currently exist and available to growers, and to examine working with extractors to enable and support them to become compliant. We have had decades of non-compliant peat extraction and we are now at this point where that cannot continue anymore with a variety of court cases, etc. It is important that our Department is putting in place those experts to facilitate that in the short term.
In the medium- and longer-term, we are looking at research. My Department has invested quite heavily in research into alternatives, and that continues.
What we are missing are specific answers to the immediate crises being faced. The working paper published by the Department in conjunction with the others that I referenced places a significant emphasis on the role of Bord na Móna but there is a lack of clarity on how Bord na Móna will assist. Can the Minister of State confirm that domestic peat producers will be offered first refusal on any overhanging Bord na Móna stocks? Can she confirm whether she has met with the company to discuss the outworkings of the working paper to ensure the company will resolve this? When will she have the figures related to the volume of horticultural peat that is available? In short, we need to know what the engagements are and what is the role of Bord na Móna, which is largely responsible for this crisis in the first place by exporting significant quantities of peat for several years as a State-owned company? It was just as unacceptable as the importation of peat that we now see. How has that engagement been working out?
It is important to qualify that Bord na Móna never supplied peat to the mushroom sector, and only supplied it to the amenity horticulture sector. The company has some supplies, and certainly it has indicated that those supplies will be made available to the amenity horticulture sector if it is determined to be good enough. There seems to be a little disquiet as to whether it is of suitable quality.
My advisers and my officials have met with Bord na Móna on this and the expertise that exists within the company after decades of peat extraction and they have equipment available. Bord na Móna will play a role in this. However, it has categorically stated that it will not return to peat extraction. That is no longer part of their remit. If we are looking at engaging in-----
Has the Minister of State met Bord na Móna?
My officials-----
Has the Minister of State met Bord na Móna?
Me, personally?
Yes.
At different stages, but in relation to this, since the report, my officials and my advisers have met them.
If we are looking at small-scale peat extraction, the independent assessors put in place for that will help engage with those who wish to become compliant. It is important that they become compliant if we are to continue our own domestic supply.
