Illegal peat harvesting uncovered on 38 sites across seven counties
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."
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Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Illegal peat harvesting uncovered on 38 sites across seven counties
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." Read More Gardaí used decommissioned firearms in sting operations to trap illegal gun buyers
Extra.ie
3 days ago
- Extra.ie
Peat trade laws ignored as councils refuse to intervene with illegal €40m extraction
Peat worth €40million is being illegally extracted and exported from sites in seven counties. The failure of county councils to properly crack down on illegal peat extraction 'flies in the face' of Ireland's climate and biodiversity obligations, the Environmental Protection Agency has warned. A new report by the EPA released today reveals that the agency has investigated 38 sites across seven counties where 'local authority enforcement performance is patently inadequate'. Pic: Eamonn Farrell/ 'Local authorities have been conspicuous in their lack of enforcement of environmental law,' the report noted. It highlighted that Offaly had the most unauthorised sites with nine in the county, followed by Westmeath at eight, Roscommon and Tipperary at six, Longford and Kildare at four, and Sligo with one site. It's estimated that these sites are responsible for 300,000 tonnes of peat being exported annually, valued at almost €40million. The main markets for the peat are the North, Britain, the Netherlands, Australia and Japan. Pic: Shutterstock The director of the EPA's Office of Environmental Enforcement, Dr Tom Ryan, said that there could be even more than 38 large-scale sites in Ireland, but that the agency has put considerable effort into monitoring them over the past few years. 'We've been engaging with the local authorities for a number of years on this. We've identified all of these sites, given them all the important information that we have, including aerial photography of the sites,' he said. 'We have sent out draft notices to them as part of our role in overseeing them, and they've responded to that part of the process. They've said that what we are asking for, they don't have the resources for or that a regional enforcement authority might be set up years down the line that will deal with it. Pic: Shutterstock 'With the exception of one local authority, they aren't planning to take any action at all.' Dr Ryan noted that of the seven local authorities the EPA has been engaging with for years, only Longford County Council appears to be making genuine efforts to combat the diversity-harming unauthorised extraction of peat. He said: 'They've issued notices under the Planning Act. There is still a long way to go, but it's a positive move in the right direction.' Dr Ryan added that while a regional enforcement authority could be established in the future to help combat the issue, this is no excuse for current inaction. 'Right now, local authorities have the statutory responsibility in this area and they need to step up to those obligations and prioritise the resources to develop a county-wide plan,' he said. The Environmental Protection Agency's report pointed out that it has 'deployed significant resources' to carry out 170 inspections between 2021 and 2024, despite the fact that primary responsibility for regulating all commercial peat extraction lies with local councils. Peat extractors are required to be granted Environmental Impact Assessments, Appropriate Assessments associated with protected habitats, and planning permission from local authorities before they can begin operating. However, the EPA states that these regulations are being ignored by peat extractors and that local authorities are failing to act on these violations. Dr Ryan said: 'Local authorities have been conspicuous in their lack of enforcement of environmental law. They need to step up to meet their legal obligations as regulatory authorities, prioritise their resources and use the ample enforcement powers at their disposal to bring these illegal activities to an end and to protect our environment.' The seven local authorities mentioned in the EPA report as being 'inadequate' in their enforcement were contacted for comment, but no response was forthcoming at the time of going to press. Peat extraction can lead to the destruction of ecosystems vital for biodiversity as well as the loss of important carbon sinks, which remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. Mr Ryan said: 'If you are destroying peatlands, that goes against our climate efforts. 'It's also irreplaceable. If it has to be done, it can be done in a regulated way like Bord na Móna did, but what's taking place now flies in the face of our efforts to protect biodiversity and aid the climate. '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,' he said. The EPA has also taken legal action at the District Court and High Court levels against operations on areas exceeding 50 hectares – approximately 45 GAA pitches. These legal actions have resulted in several sites ceasing operations, while 'a number of actions remain live before the courts', the EPA stated. The EPA's 38 notices to the seven local authorities in relation to the large sites they identified could lead to legal action. In extreme cases, the Environmental Protection Act of 1992 allows the EPA to 'carry out, cause to be carried out, or arrange for' vital environmental actions if a local authority refuses to comply, and then charge the local authority for the cost. The report added that 'the EPA will continue using its powers to ensure all seven local authorities fully implement and enforce environmental requirements pertaining to large-scale peat extraction'. A 2024 study funded by the EPA found that carbon emissions caused by peat extraction for domestic use have been vastly under-reported in Ireland's greenhouse gas reports to the UN. Just under 65,000 hectares of raised bog across Ireland have been cut up for domestic use, the study found, which is nearly 162 times more than the 400 hectares reported in Ireland's annual UN report.
The Irish Sun
19-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
Update on Air India jet black boxes as recorders could be sent to US for analysis after being hauled from 1,000C inferno
THE black box recovered from the doomed Air India flight could be sent to the US for analysis after being rescued from a blazing 1,000 degree inferno. The 7 A fire officer stands next to the crashed Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft Credit: Reuters 7 The Air India plane crashed into a medical college campus creating a huge fireball Credit: x/nchorAnandN 7 The plane's tail can be seen sticking out of a building following the crash Credit: AP The Indian government has the final say on who probes the device, but reports say the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in Washington, D.C. is being considered for the analysis. A team of Indian investigators is expected to accompany the device to ensure all protocols are followed during the Investigators warned on Tuesday that the recovered When jet fuel is combusted inside a plane's engine, the resulting heat can reach immense temperatures of up to 1,000 degrees. READ MORE WORLD NEWS The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route to London Gatwick crashed less than a minute after take-off into a The major black box update comes as an Air India boss revealed a bombshell update on the deadly crash - as he detailed how the Boeing aircraft had "recently been serviced". N Chandrasekaran said that the doomed jet had a " He also hit back at 'speculation' on what caused the London-bound flight to crash, and added that a probe into the exact cause of the crash could take a month. Most read in The Sun Planes usually carry One records flight data, such as altitude and speed, whilst the other monitors the cockpit sound. Moment miracle Brit survivor of Air India disaster heads BACK to burning wreck to save brother saying 'I have to save him' The Despite the name, these devices are painted bright orange for visibility amid debris. Investigators believe the CVR on this 2014-delivered aircraft likely stored only two hours of cockpit audio. The jet predates a 2021 rule which enforced 25-hour recordings on all planes. But the FDR is capable of logging thousands of flight parameters for over 25 hours, including altitude, airspeed, and control inputs. The aircraft had climbed less than 600 feet before its ascent stalled, according to the Ministry of Civil Aviation. A distress signal was sent but was met with complete radio silence. Moments later, the plane crashed into the BJ Medical College hostel complex near the airport's northeastern boundary. 7 Jet fuel burns at over 1,000 degrees Credit: EPA 7 At least 270 people died in the crash Credit: EPA The damaged black box is now seen as a crucial piece of evidence in understanding what led to India's worst air disaster in nearly three decades. Investigators hope the data from the box will shed light on the aircraft's final moments. It comes after crash investigators speculated that an just before the plane went down - raising questions about whether the engines were working properly . Analysts agreed that a small turbine generator deployed as the Boeing 787 flew towards the doctors' hostel. Commentators allege this was a system called Ram Air Turbine (RAT) poking out from the fuselage of the plane, which Commercial airline pilot Steve Schreiber, known as Captain Steve, explained: "Many aeroplanes have it. It is just behind the wing on the right side of the aeroplane, there is a little door that holds it in. Leading theories on Air India Flight AI171 THESE are some of the leading theories explaining the tragic Air India disaster which killed at least 270 people. Emergency power system : A small turbine generator was seen deploying as the Boeing 787 went down, experts said. Footage showed a "protrusion on the belly of the aircraft" with a "little grey dot" beneath it. Commentators say this was a system called Ram Air Turbine (RAT) poking out from the fuselage of the plane. Bird Strikes : A bird strike could have taken out both of the jet's giant General Electric engines. While a bird taking down something the size of a commercial airliner might sound fanciful, there are numerous examples. Wing flap position : Aviation experts have suggested the position of the aircraft's wing flaps could have played a role in the disaster. Video evidence suggests the flaps were either fully retracted or on a very minimal setting, which would have provided very little lift. The flaps provide crucial extra lift at low speeds during take-offs and landings. Pilot error : The state-of-the-art Boeing 787-8 is highly automated, with human pilots making only key decisions - but human error cannot be ruled out. Co-pilot Clive Kundar had more than 3,400 hours of flying experience and made the mayday call but Captain Sumeet Sabharwa at the helm had 11,500 hours - making him one of Air India's most experienced pilots. Heat : Planes get less lift on a hot day due to lower air density, and therefore they need to go faster to get as much lift as on a cooler day. This is particularly important when an airliner is heavy with fuel, passengers and baggage, as the Air India flight was. Technical error : Catastrophic technical or engineering issues have not been ruled out. The jet's complex design mean it could take months for a design or engineering fault to be pinpointed. "It looks like a little Evinrude motor, it's a little two bladed prop. "The purpose is to provide electrical and hydraulic pressure for the aircraft on an extreme emergency." Steve explained there are three things which could cause the RAT to deploy on a 787: "A massive electrical failure, a massive hydraulic failure, or a dual engine failure. "But I think the fact the aeroplane is mushing out the sky gives the idea it was a dual engine failure," he said. The tragic smash is the first ever fatal accident involving a Boeing Dreamliner. 52 Brits died on board the flight, but London local 7 Vishwash Ramesh's brother's funeral Credit: Dan Charity 7 Lone survivor of the Air India plane crash Vishwash Ramesh pictured at his family home in Diu, India Credit: Dan Charity
