Mr. Gerry Ryan:

Approximately three quarters of the 8,000 ha is in use for peat production activities. This is a finite resource and progressively over time less of the land will be related to peat production activities. As an entity licensed by the EPA under the integrated pollution prevention control licensing regime we have an obligation to stabilise the peatlands when we finish the production process. A team of ecologists is engaged in restoration and rehabilitation work designed to achieve stabilisation of the peatlands. We have a number of examples of projects where we have successfully rehabilitated and restored peatlands throughout the country, particularly in north-west Mayo and the midlands. This was recognised recently when the Minister for the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht published the national peatlands strategy and the review of special areas of conservation, SAC, and natural heritage areas, NHAs. The review mentioned some Bord na Móna peatlands would be designated as SACs and NHAs, which recognises the work done by Bord na Móna in restoring and rehabilitating peatlands.

One of the great advantages of use of these peatlands for wind farms is, as we mentioned in our statement, it is possible to co-locate rehabilitated and restored peatlands and tourism amenities and activities on lands which are also used for wind farms. This is one of the great attractions of the wind farm project. By and large, it is true to state the range of uses for these peatlands after they have finished cutaway is relatively limited. In a large number of cases they will revert to natural amenities for the communities located in the areas. It is possible to place projects such as wind farms on these lands, which will help create economic as well as tourism amenity projects in localities throughout the country.