Irish Peatland Conservation Council

Irish Peatland
Conservation Council

Comhairle Chaomhnaithe Phortaigh na hÉireann

ACTION
FOR BOGS
& WILDLIFE

Find out more about raised bogs and why they are important

Peat Free Products - to buy or to make at home

Sign the Peatland Protection Charter

How you can make a difference and support the Peat-Free Garden Campaign

Index

Home

Join IPCC

How You Can Make a Difference and Help the Peat-Free Garden Campaign

Below is a draft letter you might like to send to Minister Noel Dempsey, Minister for the Environment who is responsible for implementing the planning laws which should offer some degree of protection to peatland Natural Heritage Areas (NHA's) and Special Areas of Conservation (SAC's) in the Republic of Ireland. Alternatively to make your letter more personal we have given some additional points you could include at the end of the draft letter.

Minister Dempsey's department introduced a new regulation at the end of 2001 which should means that larger peat extraction schemes - those over 10 ha - on raised bogs will in future require planning permission, while those over 30ha require an Environmental Impact Assessment. This regulation has to be implemented by local County Councils.

In addition, waste management plans drawn up by County Council must also address the matter of organic and green waste recycling - which will produce large quantities of compost material that could feed back into the system - reducing the demand for peat.

Government action is urgently needed on these two issues.

Your voice could help us put raised bogs on the Ministers agenda in this election year.

If you do send a letter we would appreciate you sending on a copy to us as well.

Mr Noel Dempsey TD
Minister for the Environment
Department of the Environment
Custom House,
Dublin 1.

Dear Mr Dempsey,

I am writing to you in relation to the conservation of raised bogs in the Republic of Ireland. There has been an alarming disappearance of these precious habitats in the last century. Only 8% of the original area of raised bogs in Ireland remain, but this accounts for 51% of raised bog habitat in Europe. As such, it is vital that the remaining Irish raised bogs be fully protected under Irish law.

However, 14 raised bogs that have been designated as Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs) are currently being mined for moss peat. This activity has to stop. No permission should be given by County Councils for any developments on raised bogs that are designated as NHAs or SACs (Special Areas of Conservation).

Under the new Planning Act of December 2001, new or extended peat extractions on raised bogs must obtain planning permission if they are over 10 hectares in extent. The Department of the Environment must ensure that the County Councils enforce this law for any proposed developments on raised bogs NHAs

In addition, the Department of the Environment must ensure that County Councils encourage and provide facilities for the composting of organic municipal waste at local level. Not only will this reduce the amount of waste that is going to landfill sites, but it will also reduce the demand for horticultural moss peat as the amount of green waste compost increases, and people realise the benefits of using home produced compost in the garden.

Yours sincerely etc.,

Additional points that you may like to use in your letter:

* Ireland has given a commitment under Agenda 21 for the sustainable use of natural resources. The commercial mining of moss peat at current rates is not a sustainable activity.

* The Government should be encouraged to introduce a levy on moss peat products to generate an income to fund peatland conservation and help promote the development, marketing and awareness of peat-free gardening products.

* Between 37 and 38 million tonnes of solid waste are generated each year in Ireland. 70% of household and commercial waste produced in Ireland is sent to landfills. 42% of household waste is organic.

* Under the EU Landfill Directive, Ireland has an obligation to reduce significantly the amount of waste entering landfill sites.

* Only 4% is recycled or re-used. Theoretically, 70-80% of household waste can be re-cycled or re-used.

* In the new Planning and Development Regulations of December 2001, planning permission must be sought for peat extractions over 10ha. An Environmental Impact Assessment is required if the peat extraction exceeds 30ha.