The farmed peatland rewetting scheme is expected to open in 2021, which will see farmers paid to rewet farmed peatland.

Following an open call for applications to lead the scheme, the Department of Agriculture told the Irish Farmers Journal that four applications were received.

These applications will be evaluated by a selection committee for relevance to the programme and ability to tackle the challenges raised by the agricultural peatlands.

“An evaluation committee will compile a final shortlist from which [the Department] will select one or more projects for implementation during 2021 and 2022,” a Department spokesperson said.

Measures in the scheme will include water table management, appropriate grazing regimes and the restoration of riparian areas to protect and enhance the peatland carbon pool and benefit water quality and biodiversity.

Priority will be given to farms in the following order:

  • Farms with cutover drained organic soils that are in designated areas.
  • Farms with cutover drained organic soils.
  • Other farms adjacent to cutover drained organic soils.

    • The primary target areas for the results-based scheme are in counties Laois, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath.