The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has requested that each local authority prepares countywide and site-specific enforcement plans to investigate and address all illegal peat activities.

This follows investigations by the environmental agency into large scale illegal commercial peat extraction for a number of years across the country. The EPA said it has had recent successes in the courts over such cases, including the High Court and District Court.

The authorisation of industrial scale peat extraction in Ireland is governed by a complex set of regulations. The EPA regulates the larger activities, greater than 50ha.

The investigations do not concern the exercise of lawful domestic turbary rights and are solely focused on large-scale illegal extraction activities.

EPA investigations have uncovered a significant amount of data and intelligence, including drone footage, on 38 illegal industrial scale extraction activities on peatland sites less than 50ha, with 62 reports made in total.

The EPA confirmed that it has provided this information to the relevant local authorities.

The acts are continuing despite the ban on commercial peat harvesting, which came into effect by the High Court in 2019, and the ban on the commercial sale of peat for solid fuel heating and the restriction of peat-cutting for other purposes.

Peat

Photos by the EPA gained from drones were recently provided to the Right to Know organisation under an Access to Information on the Environment request.

In a response to the shared information, the protection agency stated: “The EPA is very concerned regarding the extent of ongoing illegal activity and the widespread disregard for environmental law. This remains a key enforcement priority for EPA.”

“The unauthorised exploitation of peat on an industrial scale is causing the destruction of important natural habitats; and is compromising the role these peatlands play in helping society mitigate the impacts of and adapt to climate change,” the EPA added.

The sites identified as engaging in illegal peat extraction are primarily based in the midland counties (Longford, Westmeath, Kildare, Offaly, Tipperary, Roscommon and Sligo).