Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On the N26, my Department is working with Mayo County Council on all the matters raised by the Senator. We have a management plan for raised bogs and the preplanning consultation is essential. There will also be consultation with those affected.

The Senator referred to peatlands and climate change. As a long-term carbon store, peatlands are very important in climate change mitigation, removing carbon from the atmosphere and storing it in the peat under waterlogged conditions. Drained peatlands, on the other hand, are a significant source of carbon emissions. Restoring drained peatlands by re-wetting has been demonstrated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and this is now an accepted climate mitigation activity under international climate change agreements.

A Programme for a Partnership Government outlines that the Government recognises that domestic turf cutters have a traditional right to cut turf, a right which is balanced with the conservation objectives and legal obligations of the State. This is reflected in the national raised bog special areas of conservation management plan which was developed arising from a motion in Dáil Éireann in March 2012, put forward by the Technical Group and unanimously supported by all Members. A final resolution of all issues in regard to the protection of Ireland's protected raised bogs will only be brought about by everyone working together within the law, with my Department and with the Peatlands Council, which was established for the purpose of ensuring input from all stakeholders. Similarly, I want to ensure that any system of management for blanket bog special areas of conservation sites is drawn up in consultation with local communities.