Grant funding of up to €75,000 has been announced to deliver peatland restoration measures at the site.
Malcolm Noonan TD, Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, confirmed the investment under the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage's Peatlands Community Engagement Scheme.
Speaking about the funding, Minister Noonan said: "Community groups play such an important role in protecting nature and biodiversity, and those involved in the conservation and restoration of 103 hectares of Abbeyleix Bog back in 2009 were ahead of their time. I'm delighted to be able to support this next phase of the project, which will take in areas of cutaway bog and wet woodland. Through this work, the bog will become a functioning peatland again, halting carbon emissions, enhancing water quality, and providing habitats for a diverse range of unique flora and fauna which have adapted to life in the bogs. This model of government-supported, community-led restoration is a powerful one and I'd like to encourage anyone interested in taking action to restore peatlands to consider replicating its success."
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The Minister has also outlined that the Peatlands Community Engagement Scheme in 2022 remains open for the submission of new applications this year, enabling community groups and others to proceed with projects delayed due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
