Illegal peat harvesting uncovered on 38 sites across seven counties

The sites are located in Offaly, Kildare, Tipperary, Westmeath, Roscommon, Longford, and Sligo.

Large-scale commercial peat extraction is being carried out illegally across seven counties in Ireland.

That’s according to a report published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which revealed that large-scale commercial peat extraction is being carried out without any of the necessary authorisations from local authorities on 38 sites.

The sites are located in Offaly, Kildare, Tipperary, Westmeath, Roscommon, Longford, and Sligo.

According to the EPA, these illegal operations are contributing to an export trade of 300,000 tonnes of peat annually, valued at almost €40m. 

Between 2021 and 2024, the EPA allocated significant resources to carry out 170 enforcement inspections.

It has also taken legal action in the District Court and High Court against operations exceeding 50 hectares.

These legal actions have resulted in the halt of illegal peat extraction on several peatlands in recent years. A number of cases remain ongoing before the courts. 

Local authorities have the primary responsibility for regulating all commercial peat extraction, specifically ensuring compliance with environmental legislation, including the performance of Environmental Impact Assessments, Appropriate Assessments related to protected habitats, and the granting — or refusal — of necessary planning permissions for these activities.

The EPA is directing local authorities to take appropriate enforcement actions against such operations within their jurisdictions.

The report notes that proper regulation of peat harvesting can provide important environmental protections.

 Bord na Móna lawfully operated nine peatland complexes across 11 counties under EPA licence until operations ceased in 2020.

Now, following licence conditions and with support from the Peatlands Climate Action Scheme, Bord na Móna is rehabilitating those peatlands.

By the end of 2024, nearly 19,000 hectares will have been restored — bringing the land back to life and allowing nature to thrive again.  

Dr Tom Ryan, Director of the EPA Office of Environmental Enforcement, said: “Operators engaged in unauthorised peat harvesting activities are in flagrant violation of environmental law. They are destroying our precious natural environments and this needs to stop. 

"The environmental damage caused by large-scale peat extraction operating outside regulatory control is catastrophic for the environment. It results in the destruction of vital ecosystems for biodiversity, the loss of important carbon sinks for our efforts on climate change and the decimation of an irreplaceable cultural and scientific amenity and resource."