The Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan, T.D., is calling on stakeholders, environmental NGOs and the public to make submissions on the consultation process launched into the use of peat in the horticultural industry.
Submissions are to be based on a consultation paper published by the working group which was chaired by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. The group undertook a review of the use of peat in the horticultural industry and have identified key issues.
The working group was established following a recommendation in First Progress Report to the Government on the Implementation of the National Peatlands Strategy (published in 2018).
On the publication of the paper, Minister Madigan stated
I am delighted to publish this Key Issues consultation paper which is a major step forward in the implementation of the relevant action set out in the National Peatlands Strategy. I encourage stakeholders, environmental NGOs and the public to make submissions on the paper during the three month consultation period.
The working group is comprised of representatives from the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment and the Environmental Protection Agency.
The consultation process is open for three months. Please find the Consultation Paper here.
NOTE FOR EDITORS
As set out in the First Progress Report to the Government on the implementation of the National Peatlands Strategy and to undertake a review of the use of peat in the horticultural industry, the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht established a working group comprised of representatives from:
- Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht - Chair
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
- The Environmental Protection Agency
The Key Issues consultation paper has been produced under the auspices of the working group and is comprised of the following (plus Appendices and References):
- Introduction
- The changing view of Irish Peatlands
- Protected Peatlands in Ireland
- Use of Peat in Horticulture
- The importance of Horticulture to the economy
- Sectors reducing their peat use
- Properties of Peat Moss versus Compost or Green Waste
- Disadvantages of Peat Use in Horticulture
- Peat-free growing substrates and difficulties in usage
- Challenges in moving from the use of peat moss in the Horticultural Industry
- Public Consultation Questions
- Next Steps in relation to this Key Issues Consultation Paper
The paper is available to view and download online at www.chg.gov.ie. A hard copy of the paper may be requested from the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Submissions on the paper will be accepted via email or standard post only to the following addresses:
Email:peatinhorticulturereview@chg.gov.ie
Post: National Peatlands Strategy Co-ordination Unit,
Peatland Issues and Land Designation Section,
National Parks and Wildlife Service,
Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
90 King Street North,
Smithfield,
Dublin 7 D07 N7 CV
(Phone: 01 8883242)
Closing date for receipt of submissions is close of business on Monday 20 January 2020
All submissions received will be published on the website of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, subject to Freedom of Information, Access to Information on the Environment, and data protection legislation.