A scheme worth over €5.4 million for the restoration of Active Raised Bog in Ireland's Special Area of Conservation (SAC) Network has been approved by the European Commission.

The project, which will operate from 2016 to 2020, seeks to improve the conservation status in Ireland of active raised bog, a priority habitat under the Habitats Directive, using best practice conservation actions.

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The project will support the restoration of active raised bog in 12 SAC project sites throughout Ireland. A project team is being recruited to implement this project and will be consulting with local communities in the relevant areas.

The Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys TD, said: "This project will provide a significant financial injection for the conservation of Ireland's protected raised bogs, will provide benefits to rural communities and also create employment opportunities.

"The project will also be a very positive step forward in efforts to reverse the decline of active raised bog in Ireland and will support the measures of the National Peatlands Strategy and the National Raised Bog SAC Management Plan."

(CD/MH)