Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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548. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the report on harvesting on Irish bogs will be published (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31459/21]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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I have neither statutory nor Ministerial responsibility for the harvesting of horticultural peat. To assist in addressing the question of horticultural peat for domestic purposes, I have established a working group under an independent chairman, Dr. Munoo Prasad, to examine the issues which had been identified during the Review of the use of Peat Moss in the Horticultural Industry. It is comprised of representatives of the relevant Government Departments, State Bodies, Environmental Non-Governmental Organisations and of various sectors within the horticultural industry.

It is envisaged that the recommendations of the chairman will be issued within months of the establishment of the working group.

The working group has already held a number of meetings. The legislative provisions in relation to horticultural peat extraction and the potential of alternatives to the use of peat moss in the horticultural industry have been discussed at these meetings.

An Interim Report with regard to the current shortage of peat in the Horticulture Industry was received in mid May and I am now reviewing that report. Meanwhile, the work of the group is continuing.