Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
573. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if bog and other land that is being re-wetted for ecological reasons will be required to be fully fenced to ensure that neighbouring stock cannot enter it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42877/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently restoring raised bog special areas of conservation and natural heritage areas as set out under the National Raised Bog Special Areas of Conservation Management Plan. Where my Department has undertaken restoration measures on raised bogs it has consulted with neighbouring landowners regarding any proposed works. The requirements regarding fencing and signage on each bog are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
The work undertaken by my Department is only one of many peatland restoration or rehabilitation projects being undertaken across the country by various bodies such as Farmpeat operated by the Department of Agriculture Food and Marine, the Enhanced Decommissioning Restoration and Rehabilitation Scheme operated by Bord an Móna and Care-Peat an Interreg North-West Europe project.
It is the responsibility of landowners to ensure that their lands are maintained in a manner appropriate to the nature of the agricultural activity being undertaken within those lands. Therefore, fencing and stock proofing of an individual’s lands is considered a matter for each individual landowner.
