Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputies Harkin and Fitzmaurice for their good wishes and for bringing this matter to my attention. I can give a response from the perspective of my Department and the agency within my remit, which is the National Parks and Wildlife Service. As Deputy Fitzmaurice noted, however, there are several agencies involved.

The legislation underpinning the protection and conservation of nature includes the Wildlife Acts 1976 to 2018 and the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011. Natural heritage areas have been designated under the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000. The EU's bird directive and habitats directive provide for the protection of certain habitats and species across the Union, giving a framework for specific measures to be taken to target areas of concern in each member state. In essence, the 2011 regulations transpose these directives into national law and provide for the nomination and designation of special protection areas, SPAs, aimed at the protection of threatened species of birds, and special areas of conservation, SACs, aimed at protecting other animal species and habitats.

Ireland is an EU stronghold for blanket bogs, which provide essential ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration and water regulation, as well as harbouring many important plant and animal species. Under the habitats directive, Ireland has identified 50 special areas of conservation for the protection of blanket bog and there are 73 blanket bog national heritage areas. These SACs include lowland and mountain blanket bogs, predominantly along the western Atlantic seaboard, but also widely distributed on upland areas. Many of the SAC sites identified for the protection of blanket bogs are extensive and include complexes of other habitats such as dry heath, transition mire, acid grasslands, rivers and streams. Protected species found there include dunlin, golden plover, whooper swan, red deer, otter and freshwater pearl mussel. Blanket bogs, together with other peatlands, have formed in the Irish landscape since the last ice age and, together with remnants of primeval forests, are some of our oldest surviving ecosystems.

In November 2019, the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department was awarded €12.4 million in funding under the EU LIFE programme for an EU LIFE integrated project entitled Life Wild Atlantic Nature which aims to protect and restore blanket bog and associated habitats. The project seeks to improve the conservation status in the special area of conservation network of blanket bog. The project start-up has been delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic, but is scheduled to take place over nine years and will be undertaken with the consultation and involvement of local landowners and communities.

Boleybrack mountain was nominated for designation as an SAC in June 2003 and is afforded protection under the 2011 regulations. It comprises an extensive upland plateau situated to the north of Lough Allen in County Leitrim and is dominated by active mountain blanket bog and wet heath.

I was very concerned to hear about the bog slide affecting the community in Drumkeeran, County Leitrim. The site at Shass Mountain is in Boleybrack Mountain special area of conservation. Officers from the National Parks and Wildlife Service have been to the site to investigate the extent of damage to the SAC. Initial findings indicate that the bog slide originated within the southern section of Boleybrack Mountain SAC, along the southern flank of the forestry plantation. The land where the slide originated is now very unstable and further slippages may occur.

The volume of peat loss appears substantial, given the amount of land affected downstream. A significant amount of peat from within the SAC has slid into the headwaters of a stream which is a tributary of the Diffagher river which enters Lough Allen. The peat material has been carried up to 5 km and deposited within the flood plain along the distance. A drone survey or equivalent may be needed to fully assess the scale of the damage.

I understand that Leitrim County Council is currently the lead agency dealing with the incident. The Office of Public Works is in contact with engineers in the council and providing advice as required. In addition, the forestry inspectorate of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Coillte have been on site since the event and have examined it in detail.

See this speech in context