Where the credit for carbon sequestered and stored by rewetted bogs will go remains undecided.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is leading efforts to restore over 22,000ha of protected raised bogs.

Fianna Fáil Senator Paul Daly and Independent TD Marian Harkin questioned officials at an Oireachtas meeting on Tuesday as to whether the agricultural sector would be given the credit. Suzanne Nally of the peatlands and land designation section said at the moment, there was no policy in place for carbon credits from peatland restoration.

“This is an evolving area and the Department with responsibility for development for any such policy in that regard is the Department of Environment, Climate, and Communications (DECC),” Nally said.

We need to ensure our bogs aren’t sold out and that Irish agriculture isn’t sold a raw deal

It is estimated that the rewetted bogs will deliver an emissions reduction of 47,000t of CO2 per year.

“Are our guests all saying they have no idea whether it is individual landowners, farmers, or the wider sector that are going to benefit from this substantial work,” Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy asked.

Nally repeated that it was a matter for the DECC to develop a national policy around carbon credits.

She added that the peatland section would be asked to give their consideration to any proposals, something that has not happened to date.

Independent TD Carol Nolan said: “We need to ensure our bogs aren’t sold out and that Irish agriculture isn’t sold a raw deal. The carbon that is sequestered and the credits from that have to be given to Irish agriculture.”

In addition to questions about carbon credits, Nally also offered assurances about the potential impact of rewetting on adjacent land. She said in the majority of cases, marginal drains are not blocked.

“The NPWS have over 30 years’ experience of restoring raised bogs and there’s been no significant issues encountered in that time that would raise concerns about impacts on adjoining landowners.”