Written answers

Thursday, 14 July 2016

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Bord na Móna

Photo of Brian StanleyBrian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein)
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17. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to request Bord na Móna to produce a plan for the future use of the natural resources that it owns at the Coolnamona group of bogs in County Laois and at Kilberry in south County Kildare. [21521/16]

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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Bord na Móna is a commercial State company operating under the Turf Development Acts 1946 to 1998 and is responsible for, inter alia, the management and development of the lands in its ownership. Since its establishment in 1946, Bord na Móna has developed the country’s extensive peat resources primarily for fuel, energy and horticultural growing media. As part of this development, the company has acquired extensive areas of peatland, together with other lands and properties. These lands extend in total to approximately 80,000 hectares. I am advised that Bord na Móna owns approximately 1,450 hectares of peatland in the Cuil Na Mona Group of bogs, consisting of Cuil Na Mona, Coolnacartan and Cashel bogs.  There are 980 hectares in Bord na Móna’s ownership at Kilberry.  I understand that all of these areas are currently used for peat production for use in the energy and horticultural businesses. Bord na Móna has confirmed that it is expected that they will continue to be used for these purposes for at least another 10 years.

I am informed that Bord na Móna operates in compliance with Integrated Pollution Control licences issued by the EPA and that these licences oblige the Company to, inter alia, prepare a plan for the rehabilitation of peat lands to be implemented when peat production ceases. I understand that a draft rehabilitation plan for each of the bogs mentioned has been submitted to the EPA.

I am also advised that the Company has prepared a strategic framework for the future use of peatlands, setting out broad principles which will enable Bord na Móna to balance and optimise the commercial,  social and environmental value of the Company’s lands. The lands at Cuil na Mona and Kilberry will be assessed in accordance with this framework when peat production ceases.

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