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Departmental Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 February 2022

Tuesday, 22 February 2022

Ceisteanna (144)

Brian Stanley

Ceist:

144. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount of funding provided for the peatlands rehabilitation scheme; the amount spent to date; if his Department has created the targeted number of jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9663/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

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 harvested 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 EU Recovery and Resilience Facility on completion of agreed milestones.

My Department has paid €7,636,517 to Bord na Móna to date in respect of works completed for this project.The funding of the EDRRS supports a just transition by maintaining jobs in the Midlands, as well as laying the foundation for more substantial and sustainable job creation into the future. All available permanent and seasonal employees who had been involved in peat production have been provided an opportunity for employment by Bord na Móna on rehabilitation and greenway activities, including EDRRS, or other Bord na Móna activities. The peak number employed on EDRRS to date is 225. As is normal with Bord na Móna, due to the seasonality of the work and the available workforce, this has reduced in recent weeks. However the number employed is in line with the expectation for the first year of the programme. Rehabilitation plans for 2022 are currently being finalised and employment will ramp up again in April and May to deliver the 2022 rehabilitation measures.

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