Ryan O'Meara
Ceist:185. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the total funding allocated to Bord na Móna for land re-wetting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66775/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 27 November 2025
Ceisteanna (185)
Freagraí scríofa
The rehabilitation and restoration of peatlands is currently being undertaken by Bord na Móna (BnM) through the Enhanced Decommissioning Rehabilitation and Restoration Scheme (EDRRS). BnM are the operator of the scheme, with my Department administering the project and the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage involved as the scheme regulator.
EDRRS is one of Ireland’s lead green projects under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan which is funded via the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Fund (RRF). It involves the rehabilitation of approximately 33,000 hectares of previously extracted peatland. The maximum value of the grant for EDRRS is €108 million. To date, €64.2 million has been claimed by BnM under the scheme and just over 21,900 hectares of peatland have been rehabilitated.
The work being carried out under EDRRS will help fulfil a key target under the Land Use, Land Use Change & Forestry (LULUCF) sector of the national Climate Action Plan. It will also play a crucial role in ensuring that Ireland meets emission reduction targets under the EU LULUCF Regulation, as well as restoration targets under the Nature Restoration Law. Therefore, the money we spend on rehabilitation and restoration now will have a significant impact on potential compliance costs post-2030.
EDRRS is also ensuring a just transition from fossil fuels in the Midlands region by enabling the continued employment of 135 people who previously worked for BnM on peat extraction sites. EDRRS is estimated to result in the net reduction of 3.3 million tonnes of CO2-eq over the period to 2050, with projected gains in carbon abatement of 62-78 million tonnes of carbon versus no rehabilitation of same landmass.
Once rehabilitated, these peatlands will support peat forming habitats; protecting the storage of millions of tonnes of carbon, enhancing biodiversity, and contributing to Ireland’s target of carbon neutrality by no later than 2050, while developing the capacity of peatland communities to respond to challenges faced by transitioning to a net-zero economy.