Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

Peat has been and remains an important element of Ireland's energy mix and still contributes significantly to security of supply by providing diversity in the fuel mix and as the primary indigenous fossil fuel resource in Ireland. It is, however, a declining resource and its overall contribution to the fuel mix for power generation will continue to progressively reduce over the next decade. Environmental sustainability is a key consideration in the continued production and utilisation of the peat resource.

Peat has been used for electricity generation since the 1950s. Its contribution peaked in the mid-1960s when it provided just under 40% of Ireland's total power generation. In 1980, it contributed 21% of the mix for power generation, while in 1995 this figure was 16%. It currently contributes approximately 7% of Ireland's electricity generation capacity.

Peat also contributes significantly to economic activity and the social fabric of the midlands region, with Bord na Móna providing employment for over 1,700 people, both full-time and seasonal, in 2006 and 2007. Bord na Móna owns approximately 7% of Ireland's peatlands and is the only company involved in the extraction of peat for electricity generation.

The current public service obligation order imposes an obligation on the ESB to have available electricity generated from indigenous peat at the generating stations in Shannonbridge, County Offaly, and Lanesborough, County Longford, up to 2019. It also imposes an obligation on the ESB to purchase electricity generated from indigenous peat at Bord na Móna's Edenderry power station up to 2015. Bord na Móna is working to progressively deliver 30% co-firing at its Edenderry power plant and is working with the ESB to assess the technical feasibility of a co-firing strategy at Shannonbridge and Lanesborough peat stations. Bord na Móna, with Government agreement, is to develop a portfolio of renewable energy, waste-to-energy and energy research and development projects as part of new strategic directions.

Reflecting the environmental significance of Ireland's bogs, Bord na Móna has developed policies and programmes aimed at protecting and restoring the peatlands in its ownership. Bord na Móna has already confirmed it will not acquire new peatlands for commercial development.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

Bord na Móna is committed to preserving different bog types as well as areas of special natural beauty and significance. The company mitigates as far as possible the impact of its operations on wildlife habitats and rehabilitates its peatlands after use. To date, it has rehabilitated some 22% of its landholding. This includes the largest such programme undertaken to date in Europe, where 6,500 hectares have been successfully rehabilitated in north-west Mayo. It is also the case that commercial turf cutting on special areas of conservation and natural heritage areas is already prohibited under the EU habitats regulations and the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000.

In summary, therefore, the progressive reduction of the contribution of peat to power generation is ongoing as we work to re-balance Ireland's energy fuel mix towards renewable energy resources. At this point in time, peat still has an important contribution to make to security of supply. The Government is also very mindful of the continued important socio-economic contribution of the peat industry to the midlands region. A legislative ban on all peat extraction for electricity generation purposes would not be appropriate at this time. However, the long-term development of any energy supply source can only be ensured within the context of our meeting our overall greenhouse gas emission reduction targets.

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