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Horticulture Sector

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 June 2022

Tuesday, 21 June 2022

Questions (924)

Martin Browne

Question:

924. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the work carried out to date by the independent expert commissioned to work on the availability of peat suitable for the horticultural market; and the number of horticultural growers that have been assisted by the work of this independent expert. [32024/22]

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Written answers

On 17th January 2022, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, in conjunction with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage published a working paper that set out a series of actions to support the horticultural growers who are dependent on peat as a growing medium.

One of the actions under the remit of my Department was to commission an independent expert to work with all suppliers to ascertain the level of horticultural peat stocks available to growers. This independent expert was commissioned at the end of March 2022.

The independent expert has met with relevant stakeholders in the horticulture sector and in the peat extraction sector to try and identify available peat stocks and to identify suitable sub 30-hectare sites for the extraction of peat that may be used for domestic horticultural use. In addition to meetings with stakeholders and own research, a peat stock survey was devised and circulated to relevant stakeholders in the peat extraction sector.

The independent expert’s work is nearing completion and a final report is expected in a matter of weeks.

I assure the Deputy that we are leaving no stone unturned to protect the horticulture sector.

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