Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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624. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the measures that his Department is taking to support alternative sources of peat for the horticultural sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56661/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is providing a number of supports in terms of identifying alternative sources of peat for the horticulture sector.

My Department commissioned Mr Seamus Boland of Irish Rural Link to assess levels and suitability of current stocks of peat across all suppliers for the Irish horticultural sector. This work entitled ‘Final Report on the assessment of the Levels and Suitability of Current Indigenous Peat Stocks and Identification of Sub-Thirty Hectare Sites and other recommendations to support domestic horticulture industry as it transitions to peat alternatives’ was published on 9^thNovember. Mr Boland made a number recommendations to address the challenge of peat supply during the transitionary period to peat free alternatives. These recommendations are being considered across Government.

My Department committed €1.69 million to a five-year research project ‘Beyond Peat’ which is being led and co-ordinated by Teagasc. The aim of the project is to identify full and partial replacements for peat within professional horticulture, preferably from materials sourced within Ireland.

My Department is also funding two sustainability research projects through the EU Producer Organisation scheme for fruit and vegetables. The first project is looking at spent mushroom substrate and how this could be potentially used as a peat replacement material within the wider horticulture sector.

The second project is investigating the sustainable replacement of peat in mushroom casing material. Results from ongoing shelf and house trials are promising. The trials are at semi commercial levels and the outcome of the trials will determine the direction of future support.