The chief executives of Ireland’s local authorities must be hauled into a meeting by the Minister for the Environment and read the riot act for failing to clamp down on illegal commercial peat extractors, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore.
Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on climate and environment, said:
“A report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has laid bare the extent of large-scale peat extraction not operating within planning or environmental laws.
“Incredibly, this blatant illegal activity – uncovered at 38 sites across seven counties – is happening under the noses of local authorities, which have the powers to act but are failing to do so.
“Up to 300,000 tonnes of peat is being extracted from these sites every year, with an export value of around €40 million.
“According to the EPA, this activity is causing catastrophic damage to local environments; decimating vital ecosystems for biodiversity, culture, and research; and ruining the country’s natural carbon sinks, which absorb greenhouse gasses – crucial for our climate action ambitions.
“Many of these operators have attempted to circumvent EPA enforcement by reducing their footprint below 50 hectares, which brings them within the remit of their local authority. However, the EPA has described enforcement levels by councils as ‘patently inadequate’.
“We are not talking about traditional bog owners here – this is a large-scale illegal industry operating in plain sight.
“We cannot allow a situation to continue where people are profiteering from the destruction of the environment. If we are to successfully deal with our biodiversity crisis and take effective climate action, our peatlands will have to be at the heart of it.
“The EPA report is a wake-up call for the government. The Minister for the Environment must now bring the chief executives of local authorities before him to remind them of their enforcement responsibilities in this area.”
June 26, 2025