Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The House will be aware that it was the intention of the Government to have a phased withdrawal from peat. This involved a proposal to co-fire peat with biomass. Unfortunately, An Bord Pleanála rejected that planning application. The ESB carefully evaluated whether it would be possible to secure a successful counter-application to overcome the refusal but, as the Deputy is aware, it indicated last Friday that that would not be possible. Since this possibility first surfaced in the summer, we have been preparing an alternative approach to develop job opportunities for people in the midlands and employees of Bord na Móna. That was reflected in the budget, as well as the work we have done with Europe to get public service obligation moneys to support rehabilitation in the bogs to a very high standard.

See this speech in context