Calls for stronger action on illegal peat harvesting in Kildare

At the recent September meeting of Kildare County Council, Social Democrats councillor, Peter Melrose welcomed the council’s report on enforcement efforts to protect the county’s peatlands, while calling for urgent action in response to findings in a report on illegal peat extraction from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Kildare was one of seven counties highlighted in the report from June 2025, which identified four illegal commercial peat harvesting sites of fifty hectares or more in the county, of which two remain active.

The council executive cited resourcing constraints and legal complexity as an explanation for the development of the unauthorised sites.

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The council did outline plans to enhance enforcement capacity, primarily the proposed establishment of a Regional Enforcement Authority under Section 356 of the Planning and Development Act.

Councillor Melrose acknowledged the limitations that the council is working under: “The proposal of the new authority reflects the complexity of enforcement in large-scale land use areas and the need for coordinated, specialist-led action.”

However, he also highlighted the consequences in the EPA’s report of allowing the sites to continue: “The EPA described the environmental damage caused by large-scale, unregulated peat extraction as ‘catastrophic.’ If two illegal sites remain active in our county, then our work is not done.”

Cllr. Melrose called for strategic, persistent enforcement and continued support, and additional resources, if necessary, for planning and environmental teams.

He also requested that the motion be circulated to the other six county councils who have been affected.

The motion was passed.