Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
2770. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the actions he has taken and plans to take in regard to the large-scale illegal extraction of peat for horticultural use in view of the data on unauthorised and unlicensed peat extraction gathered by University College Cork commissioned by an organisation (details supplied) with funding from his Department. [35193/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, it is primarily a matter for the planning authorities concerned to take any enforcement action required in relation to alleged unauthorised peat extraction development in their administrative area that is identified in the study to which the Question refers. These authorities provided information to my Department arising from the study and are, therefore, aware of the sites on which the unauthorised development is alleged to have taken place.
My Department is actively progressing the drafting of European Union Regulations with a view to putting in place as speedily as possible a robust and effective legislative underpinning for a proposed new regulatory system for the large-scale peat extraction sector. Under the new system, the Environmental Protection Agency will be required to carry out environmental impact assessment as part of its examination of licence applications for peat extraction on sites of 30 hectares or more, and such activity will be exempted from the requirement to obtain planning permission. The draft regulations have been the subject of focused stakeholder input from relevant Government Departments and State bodies, industry representatives and environmental groups. Consultations are continuing with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and the EPA with a view to finalising the draft regulations for signature as soon as possible.
