Martin Browne
Question:213. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the supports that are available for farmers whose land has been affected by Bord na Móna rewetting bogs.. [12264/22]
View answerThursday, 3 March 2022
Questions (213, 214)
Martin Browne
Question:214. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a farmer whose land has been left unworkable due to Bord na Móna rewetting neighbouring bogland is entitled to financial compensation.. [12265/22]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Question Nos 213 and 214 together.
The Bord na Móna Enhanced Decommissioning, Rehabilitation and Restoration Scheme (EDRRS) was approved by the Government in 2020 for the enhanced rehabilitation of 33,000 hectares of Bord na Móna peatlands previously used for peat extraction for electricity generation. Initially funding was from the Climate Action Fund up the value of €108 million, but subsequently, the full funding was secured from the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility on completion of agreed milestones. All of the lands being rehabilitated are operated under Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) licences granted by the Environmental Protection Agency.
In 2021, the first year of this project, 19 rehabilitation plans were approved with works commenced on 18. Plans for the 2022 campaign on a further 21 bogs in the Midlands region are well advanced. At each stage Bord Na Móna is consulting with stakeholders and landowners that may be impacted by the scheme. Bord na Móna carry-out this consultation in accordance with EPA guidance on the process of preparing and implementing bog rehabilitation plans. Focussing on meaningful, early and on-going, and transparent consultation with all national and local regulators, local interest/community groups, and affected parties. EDRRS is building on, and complementing, the measures required under IPC licences.
EDRRS will not only secure the storage of 100 million tonnes of CO2 emissions, but deliver benefits in terms of increasing biodiversity, supporting bog amenity and eco-system services, as well as improved water quality and water attenuation relating to flood risk management to the benefit communities locally and nationally.
Bord Na Móna has in place, and has committed to maintain, a care and maintenance team who will be responsible, among other things for boundary management on the Bord na Móna land banks. Bord Na Móna’s obligations as a property owner are not affected by the provision of this funding.