Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department, in conjunction with the Departments of Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC), and Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Housing) has developed a series of actions to support the horticultural growers who are dependent on peat as a growing medium. 

In these targeted actions which reflect the multi-faceted nature of the problem, my Department is endeavouring to address the short-term issue of supply, the medium term one of future access to peat and also the longer-term issue of replacement with alternatives.

My Department has commissioned an independent expert to work with all peat suppliers to ascertain the level of horticultural peat stocks available to growers and to identify sub-30 hectare sites for the extraction of peat that may be used for domestic horticultural use. The independent expert has engaged with the organisation whose details are supplied.  Having full information on available peat stocks and the location of sub-30 hectare sites is very important and it is incumbent on those who have this information to fully engage with this work. The work on this action is nearing completion and a final report is expected in a matter of weeks.

My Department has also commissioned experts to provide focused guidance to those wishing to achieve regulatory compliance for extraction of horticultural peat on sub-30 hectare bogs for supply to the domestic horticulture industry. A draft of this report has been received by my Department and will be finalised shortly.  It is essential that there is full engagement with the regulatory processes in order to ensure peat supply for the domestic horticulture industry.

My Department, in looking towards the future, continues to support and facilitate research in the development of alternatives to peat for horticulture.