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Operators engaged in large-scale unauthorised peat harvesting activities are in flagrant violation of environmental law.
- The large-scale, illegal commercial extraction of peat is widespread in Ireland. The sector does not operate within planning or environmental laws.
- The EPA has investigated 38 large-scale operations over seven counties where illegal peat extraction is taking place.
- Local authorities must take appropriate enforcement action against operators of illegal peat extraction within their jurisdiction.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published its report on Large Scale illegal Peat Extraction in Ireland. The EPA has investigated 38 sites across seven counties – Tipperary, Offaly, Kildare, Westmeath, Roscommon, Longford and Sligo – where large-scale commercial peat extraction is being carried on without any of the necessary authorisations from the local authorities. These illegal operations are contributing to an export trade of 300,000 tonnes of peat annually, valued at almost €40 million.
The EPA has deployed significant resources to carry out 170 enforcement inspections between 2021 and 2024. It has also taken legal actions at District Court and High Court level against operations on areas greater than 50 hectares. These legal actions have resulted in the cessation of illegal peat extractions on several peatlands in recent years. A number of actions remain live before the courts.
Local authorities have the primary responsibility for regulating all commercial peat extraction, specifically regarding compliance with environmental legislation including the performance of Environmental Impact Assessments, Appropriate Assessments associated with protected habitats, and the granting or otherwise of the necessary planning permissions for those activities.
Local authority enforcement performance in this area is patently inadequate. The EPA is directing local authorities to take appropriate enforcement actions against such operations within their jurisdiction. The EPA will continue to use its powers to ensure that local authorities fully implement and enforce the environmental requirements pertaining to large-scale commercial peat extraction.
The report notes that appropriate regulation of peat harvesting can provide important protections for the environment. Bord Na Móna has lawfully operated nine different peatland complexes across 11 counties under licence from EPA, until 2020 when these operations ceased. Now, in accordance with their licence conditions and with the support of the Peatlands Climate Action Scheme, Bord na Móna is engaged in the rehabilitation of those peatlands with almost 19,000 hectares rehabilitated by the end of 2024, bringing them back to life, allowing nature to take its course and the peatlands to flourish again.
Commenting on the report, 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.
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.”
He added: “Bord na Móna is an excellent example of where appropriate engagement with the environmental regulations, including EPA licensing requirements, has worked to minimise the negative impacts of peat harvesting on the environment and to secure the longer-term rehabilitation of those harvested peatlands.”
The Large Scale illegal Peat Extraction in Ireland report is available on the EPA website.
Thurles Planning Alert from Tipperary County Council.
Application Ref: 24268.
Applicant: Maurice McCormack & Katie Tormey.
Development Address: Archerstown & Townagha, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Development Description:
(1) demolition of part of an existing single storey dwelling house,
(2) an extension to the side of the remaining dwelling with part in single storey and part in two storey construction,
(3) a single storey porch at the rear of the existing dwelling.
Status: Conditional.
Application Received: 26/11/2024.
Decision Date: 16/06/2025.
Further Details: http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/24268/0.
It was with sadness that we learned of the death, on Monday 23rd June 2025, of Mrs Margaret Shore (née O’Meara), Moate Road, Freshford, Co. Kilkenny and late of Mullinahone, Thurles, Co. Tipperary and 63 Quarry Road, Whitney, Oxfordshire, England.
Pre-deceased by her mother Elizabeth, father Jack, brothers John and Mick, sister Rennie, and loyal dog Goldie; Mrs Shore sadly passed aware unexpectedly at her place of ordinary residence.
Her passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her sorrowing family; broken-hearted husband Michael, son Adrian, daughter Sharon, grandchildren Bryce, Louisa, Lianne, and daughter-in-law Sue, brothers Jimmy and Pat, sisters Betty, Josephine, Mary and Ettie, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews extended relatives, neighbours and wide circle of friends.
Requiescat in Pace.
Funeral Arrangements.
The earthly remains of Mrs Shore will repose in Kennedy’s Funeral Home, Kilkenny Street, Freshford, Co. Kilkenny (Eircode R95 C44T), on Friday evening, June 27th, from 6:00pm with Vigil Prayers and Rosary at 8:00pm.
Her remains will be received into the Church of St. Lachtain, Freshford, Co. Kilkenny (Eircode R95 K003) on Saturday morning, June 28th, to further repose for Requiem Mass at 10:00am, followed by a Service of Cremation, in the Island Crematorium, Rocky Island, Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork at 1:00pm.
For those persons who wish to attend the Service of Cremation for Mrs Shore, but for reasons cannot, same can be viewed streamed live online, HERE.
The extended Shore and O’Meara families wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time, and have made arrangements for those persons wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.
Note Please: Family flowers only.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílis.
It was with sadness that we learned of the death, yesterday Tuesday 24th June 2025, of Mrs Mary O’Grady (née O’Connor), The Donahies, Dublin and formerly of Boherlahan, Co Tipperary.
Mrs O’Grady passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, while in the care of staff at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin.
Her passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her sorrowing family; loving husband Dick, daughter Jacqueline, son Richard, son-in-law Paul, daughter-in-law Kathleen, grandchildren Jodie, Rachel, Jack, Daragh and Ciara, brothers Liam, Dan and Pat, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended relatives, friends and neighbours.
Requiescat in Pace.
Funeral Arrangements.
The earthly remains of Mrs O’Grady will repose at Jennings Funeral Home, Oscar Traynor Road, Coolock, Co. Dublin, (Eircode D17 FK58) on Tuesday afternoon, July 1st from 2:00pm until 4:00pm.
Her remains will be received into the Church of The Holy Trinity, Donaghmede, Grange Rd, Donaghmede, Dublin, (Eircode D13 H920) on Wednesday morning July 2nd, to arrive for Requiem Mass at 10:00am, followed by a Service of Cremation in Dardistown Crematorium, Collinstown Cross, Old Airport Rd, Dardistown, Dublin, (Eircode K67 HP26).
For those persons who wish to attend Requiem Mass for Mrs O’Grady, but for reasons cannot, same can be viewed streamed live online, HERE.
The Service of Crematorion can be viewed streamed live online on Wednesday morning, HERE.
The extended O’Grady and O’Connor families wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time, and have made arrangements for those persons wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.
Note Please: Family flowers only. Donations in lieu, if desired, to LauraLynn.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílis.
Final Implementation Plan For Zero Tolerance Strategy On Domestic, Sexual & Gender-Based Violence Published.
- Priority areas include expanding refuge accommodation, advancing legislative reform, and cross-sectoral training initiatives for frontline professionals.
- There are 95 actions in total across the strategy’s four pillars of protection, prevention, prosecution and policy co-ordination.
- A robust monitoring and reporting framework establishes performance indicators to track progress and understand impact.
A targeted implementation plan for the final phase of Zero Tolerance, the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (DSGBV) has been published.
The implementation plan contains 95 actions across the strategy’s four pillars of Protection, Prevention, Prosecution and Policy Co-ordination, with a strong focus on delivery and collective action to 2026.
The DSGBV Agency Cuan worked in collaboration with officials from the Department of Justice and in close consultation with other Government Departments, state agencies and external stakeholders to develop the plan for 2025-2026.
Priority areas include continuing national leadership and cross government alignment, expanding refuge accommodation, delivering a comprehensive national emergency domestic violence accommodation plan, and advancing legislative reform. That legislative reform includes removing the guardianship rights of a person who has been convicted of killing their intimate partner; developing a mechanism to ensure any person in an intimate relationship can be informed if their partner has a history of domestic violence; and advancing provisions to ensure counselling records are only released where the Court decides that they contain material relevant to legal proceedings.
The plan also includes actions to continue to deliver impactful awareness campaigns on sexual consent and pathways to safety, and a comprehensive set of training actions to upskill front-line professionals across the health and social care sector, DSGBV services, the judiciary, courts and other justice agencies.
The development of the plan was collaborative and evidence informed, involving research and a review of implementation to date, followed by in-depth consultations with Government departments and state agencies. It takes an intersectional approach, ensuring that actions and outcomes are responsive to the diverse and overlapping identities of victims and survivors of DSGBV, supported by the development and establishment of survivor-centred structures to ensure that victim/survivor voice is heard. The work to develop foundational structures, build networks and relationships lays the groundwork for beginning the transition to a Fourth National Strategy on DSGBV.
Also published today is the second 2024 Progress Report, covering the period July to December 2024, which highlights continued progress across government and the sector in implementing the Zero Tolerance strategy.
Notable achievements during the reporting period include:
- Expanding emergency accommodation capacity including launch of a state-of-the-art refuge facility in Wexford and strengthening the pipeline for refuge and safe home expansion.
- Reform of the Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) Curriculum to empower students to be healthy and resilient young adults who have the skills and confidence to nurture healthy relationships.
- Expansion of services for children and young people experiencing domestic or sexual violence, with €17m in funding distributed to 60 services supporting children and young people.
- Enactment of the Family Courts Act 2024 providing for the establishment of family court divisions within the existing court structures including a Family High Court, a Family Circuit Court and a Family District Court.
- Supporting the Game Changer campaign, a three-year initiative led by Ruhama, in partnership with the GAA and the Men’s Development Network, using sports-based advocacy to raise awareness of gender-based violence.
- Convening of a National Consent Forum.
- Engagement with the Central Statistics Office (CSO) to scope the development of a Domestic Violence survey to commence in 2025.
The 2025–2026 implementation plan and the Second Progress Report (2024) are available at: https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/Zero_Tolerance_Implementation_Plan_2025-2026.pdf.
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