A lifeline has been thrown to the north Mayo peat industry with the decision by Bord na Móna to halt any further rehabilitation works and flooding of developed bogs in Bangor Erris, pending further investigation of peat reserves in the Erris area, writes Elisha Commins.
The decision follows a public meeting in Bangor Erris attended by Bord na Móna officials including land acquisitions manager Mr Gerry McNally.
Local people argued that rehabilitation works, including breaking up drains and flooding the bogs, would raise the water table in the Bangor area and pose a flooding risk to nearby homes and farms.
There were also calls at the meeting for an investigation to establish whether there were sufficient peat resources in north Mayo to sustain a new peat power station after the Bellacorick station closes next April. Bord na Móna agreed to an investigation which will be carried out by Prof Seamus Caulfield of the Céide Fields.