Drone Footage And Aerial Photos Reveal Suspected Unauthorised Peat Extraction In Kildare

The files were released by the EPA, and detail peat extraction activities in two locations in Kildare

Suspected unauthorised peat extraction sites at two bogs in Kildare have been revealed in files released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The files were released by the EPA to the Right To Know organisation under Access to Information on the Environment regulations.

First reported by The Irish Independent, “files released by the agency show clear evidence of large-scale commercial peat extraction in multiple counties – all believed to be unauthorised.

“That is despite a ban on the commercial sale of peat for solid fuel heating and the restriction of peat-cutting for other purposes, such as horticulture, to plots that have environmental assessments, planning permission, EPA licences or both”.

These site inspections were conducted from March 2023 to present, and include sites in Kildare, with the EPA files including aerial photos and drone footage used of the sites.

Reports relating to the Kildare bogs reveal information of site inspections conducted between June 2023 and July 2024.

The two site addresses in Kildare are in Ballinderry, Carbury and Clonuff, between Moyvalley and Broadford.

Nine site visit reports were conducted by the EPA for the Ballinderry site between June 22nd 2023, and July 17th 2024, all under the criteria of ‘peat extraction investigation’.

The two objectives of the visits “whether peat extraction activities were being carried out on lands” and “to determine what activities and the location of the activities being undertaken were carried out”.

In two of these nine site visit reports, a third objective was given: “The EPA inspector was also accompanied by [redacted] and [redacted] who were carrying out surveying/mapping of the peatland on behalf of the EPA”.

The findings from a report on a site visit dated June 22nd 2023 noted that the EPA inspector spoke with an onsite worker, who stated “they had ceased extracting peat on some sections of the peatland in 2022”.

This report also features the finding that “milled peat harvesting activity was noted to have recently taken place on some parts of the peatland”, and “machinery/equipment for harvesting peat was noted on the peatland and also parked at the site”.

Recently worked area of the Ballinderry site on June 22 2023

Machinery noted at the Ballinderry site on June 22 2023

Aerial footage and photos were also included in four of the nine site visit reports to the Ballinderry location, showing drainage works and milled peat extractions taking place or had recently taken place.

Drone used at the Ballinderry site in July 17 2024

In two separate site visits to the Ballinderry location, “significant dust emissions were noted to be arising from the milled peat extraction activities”.

Dust emissions photographed at Ballinderry on June 12 2024

In the site visit to Clonuff on July 13th 2023, the purpose of the visit was to “ascertain whether peat extraction activities were being carried [out] on lands in Co. Kildare”.

Similar to the reports on the Ballinderry site, the site visit to Clonuff was under the criteria of peat extraction investigation.

It was found at the site that there are distinct areas of bog which did not appear to be joined by road, and therefore named as Area 1 and Area 2.

Area 1 and 2 in Clonuff

Both areas were reported to have no peat extraction/harvesting occurring at the time of the visit.

It was reported that peat extraction/harvesting was not taking place at either area at the time of the EPA’s visit, but it did appear that “milled peat extraction had taken place in recent times” at Area 1.

Recently milled peat extraction in Clonuff

Area 2 reported to have large areas that appeared to be “not worked on in recent times as there was a lot of fresh growth and greenery across the area”.

Area 2

Commercial peat extraction in Ireland is governed by a set of complex regulations, with the EPA regulating larger activities over 50 hectares.

In the EPA’s ‘Ireland’s State of the Environment Report 2024’, it is stated that local authorities play a key role in regulating all commercial peat extraction, specifically regarding planning permission and requirements to undertake Environmental Impact Assessment and Appropriate Assessment.

In a statement provided to Kfm by the EPA, the environmental regulator said:

“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 authorisation of industrial scale peat extraction in Ireland is governed by a complex set of regulations. The EPA regulates the larger activities, greater than 50 hectares, and these activities have been the focus of EPA investigations to this point.

“Local authorities have key roles in regulating all commercial peat extraction that is less than 50 hectares. EPA investigations have uncovered a significant amount of data and intelligence, including drone footage, on 38 illegal industrial scale peat extraction activities on peatland sites less than 50 hectares and has provided this information to the relevant local authorities.

“It has requested that each local authority prepares countywide and site-specific enforcement plans to investigate and address all illegal activities”.

Kfm has contacted Kildare County Council in regards to this.

In its statement, the EPA also confirmed that it “has been investigating large scale illegal commercial peat extraction for a number of years, and has had recent success in the courts (including High Court and District Court)”.

It has also been revealed that large-scale peat extractions continued on Bord na Móna lands, despite the company formally declaring it had permanently ceased production.

In 2015, Bord na Mona announced its intention to phase out the harvesting of peat for energy by 2030 in favour of biomass, wind power and solar generation.

In correspondence to the Right To Know organisation, EPA inspectors noted stockpiles of peat, evidence of peat extraction and lands being prepared for extraction on Bord na Móna land.

Bord na Móna stated that some of the site had been transferred to a third party, and none of the activities were being carried out by the company itself.

The Irish Peatland Conservation Council (IPCC) has since welcomed the EPA investigation into large scale peat extraction.

In a statement released this afternoon, the IPCC said: "The IPCC emphasises that peatlands are not just an essential part of our natural heritage and support indigenous biodiversity; they are critical to global efforts in combating climate change. We need the Local Authorities and Environmental Protection Agency to divert enough capacity to fully investigate these sites and seek funds for rehabilitation".

The full report containing the EPA Site Visit Reports can be found here.