A new three-year wetland restoration project, titled Tóchar, is a “great opportunity” for individuals, landowners, and communities, the cathaoirleach of the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly said today (Friday, September 27).
Tóchar, which takes its name from hundreds of ancient paths or toghers laid across the bogs long ago, is co-funded by the government and the European Union through the EU Just Transition Fund Programme.
It is estimated that the project will involve a €12 million spend during its lifetime.
An expression of interest call was launched today to landowners, communities and groups to “become actively involved in nature restoration for wetlands” across the EU Just Transition area.
The EU Just Transition Area includes municipal districts in the counties Laois, Longford, Offaly, Westmeath, Roscommon and the Municipal Districts of Ballinasloe (Co. Galway), Athy, Clane-Maynooth, (Co. Kildare) and Carrick-on-Suir and Thurles (Co. Tipperary).
Wetland restoration project
Councillor Catherine Fitzgerald, cathaoirleach of the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly, believes the call for expressions of interest “is a great opportunity for individuals, landowners, and communities to play an active role in making a difference”.
“By restoring nature and our peatlands together, we can build climate resilience and a more sustainable future for ourselves and generations to come,” Cllr. Fitzgerald said.
The Tóchar project will be managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage with a project office in Birr, Co. Offaly.
The project team have created a straightforward step-by step expression of interest form to support any one who wants to participate in Tóchar.
It is asking interested groups, landowners or individuals to get in touch with the team and fill in an expression of interest form so that they can start connecting with them.
The Minister for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan said today that “the restoration of wetlands is part of the just transition journey towards climate neutrality”.
“Restoring wetlands as part of the Just Transition is essential and community participation in this type of activity has numerous benefits,” he added.