IPCC’s Annual Report & Financial Statements 2025

During the year, we continued to monitor peatland sites nationally, responding to scoping and planning applications, public consultations and engaging with a variety of stakeholders. We welcomed the Environmental Protection Agency’s report detailing the large scale illegal peat extraction across seven midland Counties and presented at the Houses of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy on this topic alongside the EPA and Westmeath and Offaly Local Authorities.

In collaboration with the Embassy for the Kingdom of the Netherlands we hosted a joint conference entitled ‘Futureproofing Ireland’s Peatlands: Dutch Lessons in Restoration’ at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre. During this event the IPCC along with the Ambassador for the Kingdom of the Netherlands welcomed, Senators, TD’s, Local Councillors and representatives from farming organisations, NPWS, Local Authorities, community groups and media to learn, discuss and share our collective peatland experiences.

We undertook a retrofit of the administration wing of the Bog of Allen Nature Centre installing an air to water heat pump, solar panels, an EV charge point and insulation, highlighting the IPCC’s commitment to reducing dependency on peat as Ireland transitions to renewable greener energies.

We undertook a number of peatland projects in 2025 including:
* dragonfly and damselfly survey at Lodge Bog, Co. Kildare,
* dragonfly and damselfly survey at Girley Bog NHA, Co. Meath,
* large heath butterfly habitat assessment and adult count at Girley Bog NHA,
* publication of a blanket bog plant identification swatch and
* developing a community biodiversity action plan for Callan, Co. Kilkenny

We met with over 1,900 visitors and groups during the year both at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre and nationally through our peatland education outreach programme.

The voluntary committee of management held seven meetings in 2025 including the AGM in May. Topics of discussion included the regulation of IPCC’s finances and operations, health and safety assessments, strategic and business plan review and compliance with the Charities Regulator governance code. Updates to the IPCC’s Memorandum and Articles of Association were also completed.